It’s no accident Wyoming citizens show support for wildlife crossings

Just over a year ago, Governor Mark Gordon challenged Wyomingites to purchase 2,020 wildlife conservation license plates by December 31, 2020. The plate had launched in mid-2018, and the challenge was created to help raise crucial funding for wildlife crossings and associated structures to help keep families safe on Wyoming roadways. 

We’re happy to report that despite a global pandemic and year of adversity, Wyoming residents met the challenge. Individuals, non-profits, and businesses purchased this specialty plate and helped raise $300,000 for signage, fencing, as well as under and overpasses to help wildlife safely cross roadways.  

Over 2,000 Wyomingites outfitted their vehicles with the Wyoming wildlife conservation license plate, featuring a mule deer.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming Department of Transportation have a proven track record of working together to address wildlife-vehicle safety, with successful projects at Trapper’s Point, Nugget Canyon and Baggs, and ongoing projects around Dry Piney, Kaycee to Buffalo, Dubois, and Jackson Hole. 

Wyomingites voluntarily paid $180 for each plate; knowing that their purchase could help reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 90%. Renewals or new purchases in 2021 and beyond will continue to help build a base of financial support for protecting wildlife and families well into the future. 

GYC worked with our conservation partners at the Muley Fanatic Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, The WYldlife Fund, and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation to help raise awareness for the specialty plate. 

We applaud Wyoming’s citizens and businesses for responding to the challenge and making a difference for this important work. If you’ve purchased a plate, THANK YOU for prioritizing safe roads. If you want to purchase a plate, learn more here.

-Jenny DeSarro, Wyoming Conservation Coordinator