December 13, 2025 - West Virginia Outdoors with Chris Lawrence

On this edition of West Virginia Outdoors, Chris Lawrence tackles some of the most pressing wildlife issues facing the Mountain State. The show opens with a detailed breakdown of the 2025 EHD outbreak, including an excerpt from Ethan Barton, wildlife disease specialist with the West Virginia DNR, explaining why Mid Ohio Valley counties were hit hardest and why deer populations are expected to recover. Chris also addresses ongoing frustration over the delay in buck harvest numbers, while sharing newly released fall turkey harvest data that shows a significant statewide decline. Later, Colin Carpenter, the DNR’s Bear Project Leader, joins the show to explain the growing impact of sarcoptic mange in black bears, how it spreads, what hunters and landowners are seeing, and why a new multi-state research project may finally provide long-term answers. A timely, information-heavy episode focused on science, transparency, and the future of West Virginia’s wildlife.