Hunters can harvest more types of animals from the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge and use rifles under new regulations that recently went into effect.

The refuge encompasses 22 islands spread over 362 miles of the Ohio River through West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, including Buckley, Middle, Muskingum and Neale islands in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The main changes locally involve the expansion of hunting to include crow, raccoon, gray fox, red fox, bobcat, skunk, opossum, woodchuck, weasel, squirrel, rabbit, turkey and coyote. The hunting of elk, sandhill crane and feral hogs — none of which are on the local islands — is still prohibited, along with reptiles and amphibians. The Buckley mainland area is open only to large game archery hunting.

“We’ve tried to come as close to state regulations as we can,” said Vic Elam, refuge manager.

Rifle hunting is now allowed, except for large game like deer, turkey and bear.

“In all cases, we don’t permit toxic ammunition,” Elam said.

Options include archery and bullets made of a substance other than lead, such as copper. This is in an effort to prevent animals’ ingestion of lead fragments from bullets.

“Eagles are getting lead poisoning, and we’re losing a lot of eagles that way,” Elam said, adding there have been documented cases in other refuges but not here.

The changes are part of expanded hunting and sport fishing opportunities across 2.1 million acres of land by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to a release from Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin.

“This is exciting news for West Virginia, especially given our state’s cherished hunting and fishing tradition,” said Capito, R-W.Va. “Today’s announcement expands opportunities for sportsmen, while promoting conservation and a love of our wild and wonderful outdoors.”

“Like many of my fellow West Virginians, I enjoy hunting and fishing in our wild and wonderful state,” said Manchin, D-W.Va. “I will continue to advocate for sustainable growth of our hunting and fishing industries while also protecting West Virginia’s public lands.”

To hunt at the refuge, a person must have a signed Refuge Annual Hunt Permit, which can be obtained free of charge online at www.fws.gov/refuge/ohio–river–islands or in person at the visitor center in Williamstown.

State hunting regulations are in effect at refuge properties.