Texas Parks and Wildlife introduces hummingbird, rattlesnake plates

FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE

AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is introducing two new conservation license plates to support native wildlife projects in Texas. One of the plates features a Lucifer hummingbird, while the other depicts a Western diamondback rattlesnake.

“These two new plates broaden the choices for those who love nature and the outdoors and want to show their support,” said Janis Johnson, who manages the conservation license plate program.

More than 17,000 people participated in an online survey to select the new conservation plates. Of the six design options, the hummingbird and rattlesnake plates were selected as the most popular designs by a wide margin.

“Conservation license plates provide critical funding for Texas’ plants and animals in great need of help,” said John Davis, TPWD Wildlife Diversity Program director. “The more plates purchased, the more funding will be available to help wildlife.”

These funds support new projects each year, including habitat restoration, local nature improvement projects, increased access to nature, outreach and education, and scientific research on rare or sensitive wildlife.

In the past, projects funded by these conservation license plates included an education development project with the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute and Nature Center; the creation of wildlife viewing blinds at Camp Lula Sams in Brownsville; and habitat management and restoration at Bracken Cave north of San Antonio.

The department now offers seven conservation license plates, including the Texas horned lizard plate benefiting native wildlife, which ranks as the third most popular specialty plate of all available charity plates.

This summer, the largemouth bass plate, which benefits fishing, will be completely redesigned. The white-tailed deer (benefitting big game management); the bluebonnet and camping plates (benefitting state parks); and the horned lizard (benefitting native wildlife), will still be available for purchase. Collectively, these specialty plates have generated more than $7 million for conservation efforts in Texas since 1999.

The plates are available for cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers and RVs at a cost of $30 per year with $22 going to support Texas conservation efforts. The annual fee is in addition to the regular registration cost.

Specialty plates may be purchased at any time of the year independent of vehicle registration renewal. The new wildlife license plates and the other five designs are available for purchase online and at a county tax assessor-collector’s office.

Go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s website at tpwd.state.tx.us for more information.