West Virginia Wildlife from Eyewitness News

Wildlife Museum

A museum for West Virginia's wildlife is underway.

May 13, 2009
Reporter: Patrick McMurtry
Videographer: Brad Rice

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As beautiful as West Virginia is, and considering how much people here love the outdoors, it's hard for many folks to understand why there isn't a natural history museum in the state.

Thanks for one of the most experienced taxidermists in the state, that could all change.

Jim Anderson/WVU Prof. Wildlife Mgt. says:
"In 2007, Robert Estler from Barboursville gave us a collection of over 400 different taxidermy wildlife specimens in everything from a full black bear mount to several wolves, some of the more interesting things are songbirds, hummingbirds, a collection of songbirds. He started doing taxidermy when he was 12, he's no turning 91, 92 this year."

Mr. Estler gave these beautiful mounts to WVU's Wildlife Management program and now the ball is really rolling for a full-scale museum. Anderson was hoping to get the students really involved and that's happening.

Tristan Gingerich/WVU Grad Asst. says:
"The general student body has just taken notice of what we're trying to do and it is interested in it. We've had students go down, pick up the species from Barboursville and we've had students involved in fundraising. The Wildlife Society took on the goal of raising funds for at least one of the exhibits."

Those fundraising efforts will continue, and hopefully they'll help get the museum going. Here's where Anderson sees the money going.

Jim Anderson/WVU Prof. Wildlife Mgt. says:
"Our future plans are to take these specimens and to create natural habitat. We have about 24 or 25 that we are planning, like a wetlands with that there would be waterfowl species, otter, fish, turtles, plants and water. Pretty much showing everything you would have in a wetland."

Jim says they'd also highlight the different types of habitat you'd see all over the state, including the mountains and valleys. For West Virginia Wildlife, I'm Patrick McMurtry, Eyewitness News.