Last modified: Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Wildlife license plates

Show off your sense of style, your favorite wildlife activity, or even your patriotic side by purchasing Utah's newest wildlife license plate featuring a bald eagle. The bald eagle plate, along with the Utah Non-game Wildlife Fund check-off on your state taxes, is a great way for people to support Utah's wildlife heritage.

The revenue received from the bald eagle plate will enable the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and its partners to improve conservation of sensitive species, including the Columbia spotted frog, to prevent them from becoming endangered; support endangered species recovery efforts, such as the black-footed ferret and desert tortoise; and restore wildlife habitat.

About 90 percent of the funding used to manage Utah's wildlife comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment, and other funds associated with wildlife management. The money hunters and anglers provide is critical to successfully protecting species for which people hunt or fish. But other species in Utah need funding too.

Revenue generated from the sale of the bald eagle license plate, however, will help implement the Utah Wildlife Action Plan, which is a partner-driven collaborative effort to conserve native wildlife and their habitats throughout the state. A total of 196 species are addressed in the Wildlife Action Plan, including threatened and endangered animals, state sensitive species, and species that we need to learn more about so we can protect their populations.

The new bald eagle license plate design was officially unveiled at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area on February 10, 2007, during the DWR's Bald Eagle Day celebration at the WMA. Other wildlife plates available include a Rocky Mountain elk, a cutthroat trout, and a Great Blue Heron.

In fiscal year 2005, Utah's wildlife received more than $144,000 from wildlife license plate buyers. These proceeds are often used to leverage other funding sources, allowing DWR to establish partnerships and implement conservation projects with other organizations that are helping wildlife, including conservation organizations, federal and state agencies, and private landowners. The sale of wildlife specialty plates will help ensure that wildlife in Utah is maintained for present and future generations.

To get your new plate, stop by any Department of Motor Vehicles office or call 1-800-DMV-UTAH (if you live along the Wasatch Front, you can reach the DMV at 297-7780). If you're shopping for a new vehicle, you can also ask for one of the new plates at your dealership. Personalized plates can be ordered at the Division of Motor Vehicles Web site. The plates cost $25 per year and can be personalized with up to five characters.