West Virginia Wildlife Weathers Winter Freeze

Experts say recent ice and snow won't significantly impact deer, bears, and other game animals.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Despite the recent extreme cold and icy conditions in West Virginia, wildlife experts say the state's deer, bears, and other game animals should be in good shape as warmer weather arrives. Chris Ryan of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources explains that most animals had heavy fat reserves going into the winter due to a strong acorn crop in 2025, and have been able to conserve energy by staying close to home during the frigid weather.

Why it matters

Concerns are often raised about how extreme winter weather may impact wild animal populations, but this report suggests the recent cold snap is unlikely to have a significant effect on deer, bears, and other game in West Virginia. This is good news for both the animals and the state's hunting and wildlife viewing industries.

The details

Ryan says most deer have stayed close to home to avoid exerting too much energy during the frigid temperatures and icy conditions. He notes that bears would have already gone into hibernation, unless they were feeding on the abundant acorns last fall. While the animals may start venturing out more as the weather warms, Ryan is not worried about them overeating, as they should have sufficient fat reserves to get through the winter.

  • The recent extreme cold and icy conditions in West Virginia lasted for about 3 weeks.
  • The acorn crop in 2025 was very good, providing ample food for wildlife going into the winter.

The players

Chris Ryan

A wildlife expert with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

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What they’re saying

“Most of them would have had very heavy fat reserves on including the deer, and turkey. Most of the bears would have gone to den unless they were feeding on acorns in the woods. So this little 3 week period that we had pretty extreme temperatures where it was cold and icy will not have a real impact on the game population.”

— Chris Ryan, Wildlife expert (wvnstv.com)

The takeaway

The recent winter weather in West Virginia is unlikely to have a significant impact on the state's deer, bear, and other game animal populations, thanks to the animals' ability to conserve energy and their ample food supplies going into the cold season.