Wildlife license plates are benefiting species
By Dr. Jeff Koenings, WDFW Director

A year ago, five wildlife-themed Washington motor vehicle license plate backgrounds went on sale, offering motorists a way to show support for state species and help fund wildlife management activities provided by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The wildlife plates have proven popular—in fact, the bald eagle design was the top-seller among 18 theme license plates introduced in 2006. A total of 2,090 bald eagle backgrounds were sold by the end of the year.

Along with the eagle plate, two other wildlife-theme plates featuring an elk and an orca whale were among the top five most-popular specialty license plate designs. The elk design sold 2,085 plates and the orca design sold 1,724. In addition, 828 black bear designs and 730 mule deer plates also were sold.

A total of 7,457 wildlife-theme license plates were sold in 2006, with $118,000 netted for wildlife-management programs and the remainder of the proceeds paying Department of Licensing costs to implement the new wildlife-theme license plate options.

Each new special-design license plate costs $40, in addition to regular vehicle licensing fees, and $30 in conjunction with vehicle-license renewal fee. Now that implementation costs are behind us, $28 from the sale of each wildlife-theme license plate will be deposited in the State Wildlife Fund for specific wildlife-management programs.

Funds collected from the sale of the elk, bear and deer plates will be spent on habitat improvements, population enhancement, and improved population monitoring. Eagle plate funds help communities and organizations develop or improve wildlife-viewing opportunities. Orca plate proceeds are used for population-recovery and habitat restoration efforts for that endangered species.

You can help with this important work by joining me in purchasing an eagle license plate— or any of the other wildlife-theme license backgrounds— when your car, truck, motorcycle, RV or trailer license is due for renewal.

Beginning in September, you’ll also have the opportunity to combine a wildlife-license background with a personalized-license plate. Personalized license plates have long supported WDFW’s Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary program and this newsletter, among other wildlife-diversity programs. You can choose up to seven letters, numbers, spaces or hyphens to create your own personalized message.

To find out more about ordering your wildlife background and personalized license plate, contact your local vehicle licensing office, or see the Washington Department of Licensing website at http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/specialplates.html .

Thanks for helping wildlife with your license plate purchases. You’re not only improving the future of our state’s wildlife, but you’re also spreading your enthusiasm for Washington wildlife everywhere you drive. In a very real sense, you are moving Washington forward.