Hello, I have an Opuntia bed in my yard and I live on the fringe of the Great Basin so I can help you a little. It would be better to wait until spring to plant them because they will be ready to grow like crazy then. Not sure if there is enough time to get them established before the cold sets in so I wouldn't risk it. They may not make it through the winter. Wild cacti have crazy root systems and may go into shock if you try to move the whole thing. And depending on the size, it could be painful for you :-) And it could be illegal, as well. Any pictures? You are a little warmer so you can probably grow species I can't. The only native cacti by me are very tiny, but hardy cacti from other places grow like weeds in my beds.

They're yours, you can do as you like with them. There are different risks to the plant whether you leave it where it is, or transplant it. Since you're in WV, it's probably Opuntia humifusa, which has become a fairly popular landscape plant. I suppose you could do it, but this particular one doesn't really make a good house plant, in my opinion, but it will look great in your yard. You can compromise and this spring just take some pads from the parent plant, which you can root easily and plant wherever you like. Opuntias actually do this to themselves to make new plants elsewhere, so no harm done. I wouldn't cut it now, because it will be going dormant for the winter and won't have time to put down roots. Plant it somewhere that gets excellent drainage, and once it's established just leave it alone. They have beautiful yellow flowers in the spring and summer.

Congratulations! Such a young parent, haha... Hope it will keep growing, and maybe few more will still sprout?. Pls. keep us posted

I planted it today. I hope it doesn't wilt in this heat spell !!! I placed a full trash barrel next to it with an umbrella on top to shade the plant. The root ball had soaked for 24 hours in a bucket of water and I gave it two good soakings after I planted it, then a thick mulch. I'll give it another drink in the morning.