Bobwhite quails reportedly have been gone from West Virginia since the 1970s. Harsh weather and loss of habitat killed them off.
But last week, 48 of the birds captured in Texas were released at a wildlife management area in Logan County. State officials have a five-year plan to restore a significant population of the bobwhites.
Such initiatives often encounter setbacks and require funding. We encourage Division of Natural Resources officials to persist on this one. Bringing back the bobwhite will be worth the effort.