footprint or maintains the integrity of the land.
WVFB supports the use of tax revenue generated
from businesses who profit from the exploitation of
land (development of utility rights-of-way, gaming,
hotel/ motel tax and natural resource extraction) to
purchase development rights as perpetual easements
or long-term leases.
85. CONTROL OF WILDLIFE AND
COMPENSATION FOR WILDLIFE
DAMAGE
Damage by deer and other wildlife has become a
problem throughout our state and the over population
of deer is a serious highway safety hazard. Coyote,
mountain lion, bear, black-headed vulture and other
predatory animals have caused tremendous economic
loss to the livestock industry in West Virginia. The
indiscriminate damage caused by these animals
greatly exceeds that of dogs, making state and federal
assistance imperative.
West Virginia Farm Bureau recommends in order
to create favorable relationships between landowners,
sportsmen and the public, a statewide educational
program should be developed through DNR, Farm
Bureau, and other agricultural organizations to
educate the population on the unfairness of farmers
bearing all costs of keeping wildlife.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture
should provide local conservation officers and other
DNR employees with equipment and materials
needed to control coyote, mountain lion, bear, and
other predator animals. Nuisance bear must be
destroyed. Farmers shall be allowed to destroy or halt
predatory animals on site.
Removal of coyotes from active grazing lands
is imperative. We recommend that the state of West
Virginia expand the existing coyote control program
that includes use of coyote control collars, snares,
trapping and other methods, including, but not
limited to, night vision lighting, artificial calling
devices and bounties. The program shall include
reimburs