U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Represented by the following Members of Management Activities Congress: n Protect fragile wetland plant Senator Robert C. Byrd (D) communities and control Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D) accelerated erosion on uplands. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-1st) n Protect habitats of threatened and endangered species Contact n Perpetuate nesting habitat for Stan Skutek, Refuge Manager grassland-dependent migratory Canaan Valley National Wildlife birds Refuge n Maintain early successional HC 70, Box 200 habitat for songbirds and USFWS Davis, WV 26260 American woodcock Woodcock on nest Phone: 304/866 3858 n Control invasive species Fax: 304/866 3852 TDD: 800/982 8771 E-mail: [email protected] Highlights Forty-one miles of trails are open The refuge contains a wetlands to public uses, including 31 miles for Purpose complex of more than 5,171 acres pedestrians, 22 miles for horseback The Canaan Valley National that has national significance. riders, 23 miles for bicyclists and Wildlife Refuge was established 7 miles for motorized vehicles. to preserve the unique plant The valley has one of the largest Ten additional miles of trails are and wildlife communities of the shrub swamps and the fourth largest available for cross-country skiing on nationally significant Blackwater bog in the eastern United states. the refuge. River wetlands. The refuge was also created to perpetuate wildlife The climate supports a relict boreal Issues species, including migratory birds and ecosystem that includes at least 580 Boundary posting continues on threatened and endangered species, species of plants, 109 of which are existing property. protected by federal law. representative of latitudes in Maine. Although the refuge has acquired Public Use Notes Canaan Valley is a regionally about 66 percent of its approved n Visitor center significant breeding ground and boundary, two major land n Nature trails migratory stopover for American acquisitions are still required to n Hunting (subject to state and woodcock. ensure protection of the watershed refuge regulations) and the biological integrity of the n Fishing The refuge supports populations of Canaan Valley. the threatened Cheat Mountain salamander and the endangered The refuge will begin West Virginia northern flying comprehensive conservation squirrel. In 2003 refuge staff planning in 2006. confirmed the presence of West U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Virginia northern flying squirrel and 1 800/344 WILD will continue to survey to define its http://www.fws.gov distribution. January 2006 More than 280 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish are known or expected to occur in the diverse habitats of the Canaan Valley..