West Virginia has a varied species of plants – more than 3,200 species of plants in three life zones. The life zones are Canadian, Alleghenian, and Carolinian. Oak, maple, poplar, walnut, hickory, birch, and such softwoods as hemlock, pine, and spruce are the common forest trees. There are 200 flowering trees which include rhododendron, laurel, dogwood, redbud, and pussy willow. Rare plant species include the box huckleberry, Guyandotte beauty, and Kate's mountain clover. In 2003, four plant species were listed as endangered, including shale barren rock-cress, harperella, northeastern bulrush, and running buffalo clover. The Virginia spirea and small whorled pogonia were the two species listed as threatened that year.
West Virginia fauna includes at least 56 species and subspecies of mammals and more than 300 types of birds. The gray wolf, puma, elk, and bison of early times are no longer seen. The whitetailed (Virginia) deer and the black bear (both protected by the state) as well as the wildcat are still found in the deep timber of the Allegheny ridges. Raccoons, skunks, woodchucks, opossums, gray and red foxes, squirrels, and cottontail rabbits can be found in abundance. Common birds include the cardinal, tufted titmouse, brown thrasher, scarlet tanager, catbird, and a diversity of sparrows, woodpeckers, swallows, and warblers. Major game birds are the wild turkey, bobwhite quail, and ruffed grouse; hawks and owls are the most common birds of prey. In 2003, 15 animal species were listed as threatened or endangered in West Virginia, including the bald eagle, three species of bat, fanshell, flat-spired three-toothed snail, and several species of pearlymussel.