This license plate raised $300K for wolves, livestock

DENVER (KDVR) — Within six months, one Colorado license plate raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for wolves and livestock.

The “Born to Be Wild” license plate features a gray wolf on a black and white mountain background. The license plate was created in 2023 when House Bill 23-1265 was signed into law. Colorado motorists began purchasing the plate on Jan. 1.

In the six months the license plate has been available, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project said the plate raised $312,800. The money goes to Colorado Parks and Wildlife to fund non-lethal tools and strategies that will help reduce conflict between wolves and livestock.

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According to the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, funds from the plate also:

• Support 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

• Fund range riders to monitor livestock and deter wolf-livestock conflicts

• Provide funding for trained livestock guardian dogs, which are proven to effectively deter wolves from approaching livestock

• Support research and outreach efforts to help improve these tools and increase adoption of them

“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.”

In December 2023, the first gray wolves were officially reintroduced into Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Since then, several more wolves have been released and officials believe the wolves are having babies.

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However, since the release of the wolves, a handful of depredation cases have been reported by livestock owners. The funds from the plate will help provide materials that will hopefully deter more wolves from attacking livestock.

You can purchase the “Born to Be Wild” plate for an annual fee of $50, a one-time special license plate fee of $25 and a standard license plate fee.

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