Story by Amanda McCall
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MORGANTOWN -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides funding to conserve wildlife and funds are helping out in the Mountain State.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service takes applications year round for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. Its goal is to work with property owners to develop and improve wildlife. One man has already experienced the program here.

State conservationist Kevin Wickey explains how a property owner is selected for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program or WHIP.

"We use a standard ranking tool against each application and the highest scoring application that ranking process are selected for funding," said Wickey

WHIP started with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in 1996 to improve the quality of life for wildlife like the white tail deer and endangered species across the country. The NRCS is currently working with 75 projects in North-Central West Virginia, including a 400 acre property in Monongalia County.

Shirley Godfrey, 80, owns the land off Route 73. Godfrey said the program has planted grass in areas and removed several tree stumps to make it more animal friendly.

"I think it's great, " said Godfrey "It's an old strip mine to begin with and we're really improving."

Wickey says that's the point: to lend a hand that otherwise would be difficult for man to do; therefore, the program provides both technical assistance as well as financial.

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