SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s Division of Natural Resources will apparently be under new management soon. MetroNews has learned DNR Director Bob Fala will be leaving the position at week’s end.
Fala reportedly sent an e-mail to all DNR employees Tuesday indicating Friday would be his last day. The Justice Administration has not announced Fala’s departure nor his replacement. Calls to both Fala and the Administration Spokesman were not returned.
Fala was appointed DNR Director in January 2015. His most high profile project in the position was the reintroduction of elk in southern West Virginia. The first elk in the project were released in December.
Fala has a background in Wildlife Biology and formerly worked for the Pennsylvania Game Commission in roles as biologist and wildlife law enforcement. He previously worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before taking the job as West Virginia’s DNR Director. He’s also an accomplished outdoor writer with several books to his credit on wildlife management.
Tuesday’s email from Fala caught many within the agency by surprise. It was widely believed he would be retained under the new administration.