DNR Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (November 07, 2014) – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today unveiled the third and final license plate in a three-part series, celebrating West Virginia’s native wildlife. Through a collaborative effort between the Division of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), West Virginia is now offering the new license plate as an alternative standard issuance plate option to West Virginia passenger vehicle owners. The license plate features the image of a black bear and her cub looking over Dolly Sods in Tucker County.
“Today’s celebration marks yet another exciting opportunity to recognize some of the beautiful sights West Virginia is known for,” Gov. Tomblin said. “Our state is home to much more than beautiful scenery, it’s also home to abundant wildlife whose natural habitats are found within our forests, rivers and streams. I appreciate this partnership between DMV and DNR and their continued effort to showcase all of the beauty West Virginia has to offer. I look forward to seeing these plates on our roads.”
The black bear license plate is the third in a three-part series featuring wildlife native to West Virginia. Each year, this series of license plates provides more than $300,000 to DNR, and supports a variety of wildlife education outreach programs. Over the past 20 years, funds have been used to develop educational wildlife trunks for schools, publish numerous books and brochures, identify rare plants and plant communities, develop wildlife viewing areas, fund grants to schools for projects benefiting wildlife, and inventory and monitor nongame wildlife species.
A $15 annual fee added to the cost of a license plate will be issued by the DNR Wildlife Diversity and Natural Heritage programs, responsible for threatened or endangered species, as well as nongame wildlife and their habitats. Images for the three plate series were developed from paintings by the late DNR wildlife biologist Tom Allen.
Customers may exchange their current license plate at any DMV regional office or by mail at the time of renewal. They can also exchange their plate at any other time for a pro-rated registration fee. For more information on West Virginia license plates, call 1-800-642-9066 or click here.