CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia wildlife officials have launched a new online reporting system that allows residents and visitors to quickly report sick, injured or dead wild animals, giving state biologists another tool to detect disease outbreaks before they become widespread. The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that it has begun using a new Wildlife Disease and Mortality Reporting Tool built on the ArcGIS Survey123 platform. Public reports help protect wildlife populationsDiseases can affect a wide range of species, from deer and black bears to birds and smaller mammals. Not every sick animal needs to be reportedOfficials note that not every encounter with a sick or injured animal indicates a disease outbreak. The reporting system is intended to strengthen the state’s ongoing wildlife monitoring efforts rather than replace them.