In November 2020, the voters in Colorado voted to support the reintroduction of gray wolves to the western public lands of the state. Colorado aims to implement a plan to reintroduce these wolves by the end of the year, and the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project is actively preparing for this by creating programs that minimize conflicts and promote coexistence between humans and carnivores.
To further assist these efforts, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project has initiated the process of designing a new Colorado license plate. This license plate, named the ‘Born to be Wild’ plate, aims to generate funds for non-lethal methods of preventing conflicts with gray wolves. The state legislature has passed the bill HB23-1265 to create this license plate, and it has been approved by Governor Polis. The ‘Born to be Wild’ license plate will generate a significant annual amount, which will be allocated to Colorado Parks & Wildlife to support non-lethal conflict reduction programs and tools. Additionally, the funds will be utilized for research to improve the effectiveness of these tools and provide a sustainable revenue source for future endeavors. The fee for non-personalized ‘Born to be Wild’ license plates will be $50.00 per year, with no cost incurred by the state for the creation of this special plate.
Preventing conflicts with wolves not only avoids the need for compensation for losses but also reduces the likelihood of future losses caused by wolves. Recent scientific research indicates that wolf packs that experience human-caused losses are more inclined to prey on livestock compared to packs that haven’t faced such losses.
The ‘Born to be Wild’ license plate serves as a symbolic representation of Colorado’s commitment to restoring wolves to its expansive wilderness. The people of Colorado expressed their desire to bring back wolves and ensure a successful coexistence. This license plate embodies that commitment by assisting ranchers in adapting to the presence of wolves without negatively impacting their finances and by safeguarding the repatriated wolves in Colorado. Long story short, the license plate has a Wolf on it.
The new plate will be available in 2024, and if you would like one, you need to get on the waiting list. You can sign up here.
