Photo: Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff release transplanted wolves into the wild in late 2023.
The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project today hailed remarkable success for the ‘Born To Be Wild’ license plate, which has raised $312,800 to help protect livestock and wolves in just six months. This significant new revenue stream, which flows directly to Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), exclusively funds non-lethal tools and strategies to reduce conflict between wolves and livestock in Colorado.
The plate went on sale during the first week of 2024.
Approved by the Colorado General Assembly in the spring of 2023, the ‘Born To Be Wild’ license plate generates a perpetual revenue stream that is pivotal in deploying non-lethal conflict mitigation tools and techniques, including:
- Supporting the use of fladry fences, repellent lights, non-lethal munitions, and other visual and auditory deterrents that help wolves learn to stay away from livestock.
- Funding range riders to monitor livestock and deter wolf-livestock conflicts.
- Providing funding for trained livestock guardian dogs, which are proven to effectively deter wolves from approaching livestock
- Supporting research and outreach efforts to help improve these tools and increase adoption of them
Broad adoption of these conflict reduction tools is key to the long-term success of Colorado’s groundbreaking wolf restoration program.
“We are encouraged by the public’s enthusiasm for the ‘Born To Be Wild’ license plate,” said Rocky Mountain Wolf Project Board Chair Courtney Vail. “The incredible support from Colorado residents underscores a shared commitment to protecting our wildlife and promoting harmony between wolves and ranching communities. These funds will play a vital role in advancing our mission to protect wolves and livelihoods.”
The license plate, featuring a striking image of a wolf against Colorado’s picturesque mountains, has resonated deeply with the public. Its popularity signifies a growing awareness and support for humane and effective wildlife management practices.
There is widespread public support in Colorado for both wolves and ranching, and the plate provides a way for Coloradans to turn that philosophical support into financial support. That’s important because we’ve seen from the Northern Rocky Mountains that states that invest the most in preventative methods tend to have lower rates of conflict.
“The ‘Born To Be Wild’ license plate is not just a beautiful representation of our dedication to wolf conservation; it’s a practical way for Coloradans to engage with this important cause,” said Rob Edward, President and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project. “Each plate sold helps make ranching with wolves present much less stressful and risky.” Edward pointed out these tools are already helping to prevent conflicts in Colorado, and they have a history of significant success in other areas with wolves.
The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project’s approach involves close collaboration with local ranchers, conservation organizations, and community members. By emphasizing non-lethal methods, the project aims to minimize the necessity for lethal control measures, fostering a more compassionate and sustainable solution to wildlife conflicts.
To ensure the long-term success of this visionary program to mitigate conflict, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project encourages more Coloradans to join this effort by purchasing the ‘Born To Be Wild’ license plate. Together, we can secure a future where Colorado’s wolves and rural communities thrive in harmony.
The plate is “Print On Demand” and you can order it online via this link.
- Click on the “Vehicle Services” tab, then click on the “Replace license plates” link.
- You’ll need your current plate number and the last eight characters/numbers from your VIN. If you go the online route, the charge will be approximately $118, which includes the annual $50 fee plus other one-time charges.
You can learn more about ordering online at wolfplate.org
If ordering online isn’t your bag, you can order the plate at a local DMV office. In Archuleta County, you can purchase your plate at the County Clerk’s office in the old courthouse. Click here for other locations.