Calling Artists! Partners Launch Wildlife Crossing License Plate Design Contest
Calling artists!
In partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Theodore Rosevelt Conservation Partnership, Center for Large Landscape Conservation, National Wildlife Federation, and Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance are launching a license plate design contest to raise awareness and support wildlife crossing structures, and to showcase Montana’s rich natural heritage and iconic migratory big game and other wildlife.
The specialty plate came to life during the 2025 Montana Legislative Session. House Bill 855 laid the groundwork for smart investments in wildlife crossing infrastructure by establishing the Big Game and Wildlife Highway Crossings and Accommodations Account, a stand-alone fund to support building wildlife crossings, and this new specialty license plate that could generate $160,000 annually for the account.
Pronghorn fawns navigate a busy road. (Photo © Josh Metten Photo)
Montana has the second-highest rate of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the country.
The average Montanan faces a 1-in-53 chance of hitting an animal each year, and from 2008 to 2020, more than 29,000 large-animal collisions cost the state an estimated $212 million annually. Between 2013 and 2022, 54 people died on Montana roadways because of wildlife-vehicle collisions.
For the safety of Montana residents and visitors, and our iconic wildlife, we need solutions to keep people safe and wildlife alive. Wildlife crossing structures and fencing, when built in the right place, can reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by up to 97 percent.
In states like Wyoming and Utah, such measures have already saved countless lives—human and animal alike—while protecting drivers and taxpayers from the high costs of accident response and additional road repairs.
“Raising funds with the new wildlife crossing license plate strikes a balance that is quintessentially Montanan: honoring our wild legacy while ensuring practical benefits for today’s residents and future generations,” said Scott Christensen, executive director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. “Thank you to the Montana Legislature and Governor Gianforte for investing in Montanans’ safety and the heritage of our iconic wildlife, and to everyone who supports this mission with a new license plate.”
A bull elk crosses a road in Yellowstone. (Photo M_MUC1968/iStock)
The contest will award a $1,000 prize to the winning artist plus a souvenir plate. All design submissions must be received by Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. The winning design will be announced by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks shortly thereafter.
Artists are invited to submit original artwork that embodies the thematic elements and guidelines below. This is more of a graphic design project than a true "art" project. Your design must meet the parameters and specifications included in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Corrections (DOC) Specialty License Plate Packet. See existing License Plate Designs for inspiration and examples. Final submissions must be original and not created by AI.
Movement and Safety: Feature an iconic Montana big game species and highlight wildlife needs for movement and/or migration or risks of wildlife-vehicle conflict.
Highway Crossing Feature: Depict a highway wildlife crossing structure (e.g., overpass, underpass, or similar) somewhere in the image to highlight safe passage for motorists and animals.
Montana Landscape: Depict a recognizable Montana landscape/habitat — mountains, plains, rivers, and/or forests — that provides high contrast for clear visibility of license plate numbers and letters.
Color and Visibility: Use a shade and color scheme that ensures the design is legible and visually effective as a license plate.
Audience Appeal: Design a plate that is distinct from existing Montana plates, that appeals to most Montana drivers and reflects the values of the state’s sporting and conservation-minded communities. Click here to see a full list of existing plates and featured wildlife.
Title: Suggest a plate title that clearly reflects the purpose and conservation message of the plate. Note: FWP may change the title at any time.
Thanks for supporting wildlife crossings!
—Nick Clarke, Wildlife Conservation Associate (Bozeman, MT)
