DNR increases campground fees at wildlife management areas

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) _ Campers will pay double to spend the night at one of West Virginia's wildlife management areas.

Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Chief Curtis Taylor says the agency is losing thousands of dollars at the camp sites and it needs to increase the rates to cover part of its expenses.

Effective immediately the camping fee for groups of six or less goes from $5 to $10 per day. The per person fee for groups of more than six increases from 50 cents to $2.

The increases are expected to raise about $44,000 for wildlife management area campground operations. That's less than half of what the agency spends each year to maintain the 10 areas.