Wildlife Safari

License plates have featured a variety of wild animals – in the air, on the land, and in the water.

In the Air

Bald Eagles State Birds State Bird: Northern Cardinal Small Birds Large Birds More Birds and Winged Creatures

On the Land

Bears Deer & Bucks Buffalo/Bison Moose Big Cats More Land Animals

In the Water

Whales & Dolphins Fish Loons Crustaceans Other Aquatic-abled Pals

IN THE AIR

Bald Eagles

The Bald eagle is featured on multiple specialties, including Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Montana, and Washington.

The Bald eagle is featured on multiple specialties, including Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Montana, and Washington.

State Birds

The Western Meadowlark is the state bird of six states; Nebraska featured it on the 2011 base and Montana did so twice, but Kansas, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming have yet to use it. Missouri and New York share the Eastern bluebird. Other states depicted above are Alabama (Yellowhammer), Idaho (Mountain bluebird), Iowa (Eastern goldfinch), Louisiana (Brown pelican), Minnesota (Common loon), Maine (Chickadee), and South Carolina (Carolina wren). Some include the state flower – Idaho (Syringa), Iowa (Wild rose), Maine (White pine cone and tassel), Missouri (Hawthorn), Montana (Bitterroot, on the “Our Montana” plate), Nebraska (Goldenrod), and South Carolina (Yellow jessamine).

The Western Meadowlark is the state bird of six states; Nebraska featured it on the 2011 base and Montana did so twice, but Kansas, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming have yet to use it. Missouri and New York share the Eastern bluebird. Other states depicted above are Alabama (Yellowhammer), Idaho (Mountain bluebird), Iowa (Eastern goldfinch), Louisiana (Brown pelican), Minnesota (Common loon), Maine (Chickadee), and South Carolina (Carolina wren). Some include the state flower – Idaho (Syringa), Iowa (Wild rose), Maine (White pine cone and tassel), Missouri (Hawthorn), Montana (Bitterroot, on the “Our Montana” plate), Nebraska (Goldenrod), and South Carolina (Yellow jessamine).

State Bird: Northern Cardinal

The Cardinal is the state bird of seven different states. Illinois adopted it firstly (1929), followed by Indiana (1933), Ohio (1933), Kentucky (1942), North Carolina (1943), West Virginia (1949), and Virginia (1950). North Carolina and West Virginia have yet to put the bird on a plate. Note all of the above benefit environmental causes except the Indiana plate (two versions) contributing to the Indiana Homeland Security Foundation, which supports public safety. The cardinal is an…interesting choice. Note that the Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois plates above are successive versions in each case from oldest to newest.

The Cardinal is the state bird of seven different states. Illinois adopted it firstly (1929), followed by Indiana (1933), Ohio (1933), Kentucky (1942), North Carolina (1943), West Virginia (1949), and Virginia (1950). North Carolina and West Virginia have yet to put the bird on a plate. Note all of the above benefit environmental causes except the Indiana plate (two versions) contributing to the Indiana Homeland Security Foundation, which supports public safety. The cardinal is an…interesting choice. Note that the Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois plates above are successive versions in each case from oldest to newest.

Small Birds

The above specialty plates feature the following feathered friends: Ivory-billed woodpecker (Arkansas), Northern bobcat quail (Georgia), Hummingbird (Kentucky & Mississippi), Kentucky Warbler (Kentucky), Quail (Kentucky), Chickadee (Minnesota), Eastern bluebird (Tennessee), and the Grosbeak (West Virginia).

The above specialty plates feature the following feathered friends: Ivory-billed woodpecker (Arkansas), Northern bobcat quail (Georgia), Hummingbird (Kentucky & Mississippi), Kentucky Warbler (Kentucky), Quail (Kentucky), Chickadee (Minnesota), Eastern bluebird (Tennessee), and the Grosbeak (West Virginia).

Large Birds

Maryland has depicted the Great blue heron on all three versions of it’s “Treasure the Chesapeake” plate (two shown above), Pennsylvania the Saw-whet owl, and Iowa the pheasant.

Maryland has depicted the Great blue heron on all three versions of it’s “Treasure the Chesapeake” plate (two shown above), Pennsylvania the Saw-whet owl, and Iowa the pheasant.

More Birds and Winged Creatures

Alabama‘s “Forever Wild,” Montana‘s “Bird Habitat,” Nebraska‘s sandhill cranes, and Kentucky‘s butterflies and dragonflies from the “Nature’s Finest” series rounds out the air-borne wildlife.

Alabama‘s “Forever Wild,” Montana‘s “Bird Habitat,” Nebraska‘s sandhill cranes, and Kentucky‘s butterflies and dragonflies from the “Nature’s Finest” series rounds out the air-borne wildlife.

ON THE LAND

Bears

A standing grizzly adorned the Alaska U.S. Bicentennial base and was reprised 30 years later. Other states have used bears to represent National Parks, zoos, or wildlife in general.

A standing grizzly adorned the Alaska U.S. Bicentennial base and was reprised 30 years later. Other states have used bears to represent National Parks, zoos, or wildlife in general.

Deer & Bucks

Buffalo/Bison

A buffalo (USA’s national animal) graces Kansas‘s 2004 vanity base plate. Montana has an option to preserve wild buffalo, and picked bison for the American Red Cross specialty. North Dakota has used it on the last two passenger bases.

A buffalo (USA’s national animal) graces Kansas‘s 2004 vanity base plate. Montana has an option to preserve wild buffalo, and picked bison for the American Red Cross specialty. North Dakota has used it on the last two passenger bases.

Moose

The moose, the state animal of Maine, is found predominantly in the northernmost parts of North America as these plates reflect.

The moose, the state animal of Maine, is found predominantly in the northernmost parts of North America as these plates reflect.

Big Cats

Florida’s “Protect the Panther” and Kentucky‘s Nature’s Finest bobcat have each had two versions, with dissimilar results. Also notice Pennsylvania‘s photo of a tiger versus Montana‘s more traditional graphic.

Florida’s “Protect the Panther” and Kentucky‘s Nature’s Finest bobcat have each had two versions, with dissimilar results. Also notice Pennsylvania‘s photo of a tiger versus Montana‘s more traditional graphic.

More Land Animals

Alabama is one of several states to issue a plate for wild turkeys; Arizona‘s “Conserving Wildlife” plate is lush with detail; Nevada uses an image of a bighorn sheep to “Support Wildlife,” in Texas you can spot the Texas horned lizard in the wild or on the back of an automobile; and Idaho, Montana, and Nevada have all made efforts to preserve the horse in wild form.

Alabama is one of several states to issue a plate for wild turkeys; Arizona‘s “Conserving Wildlife” plate is lush with detail; Nevada uses an image of a bighorn sheep to “Support Wildlife,” in Texas you can spot the Texas horned lizard in the wild or on the back of an automobile; and Idaho, Montana, and Nevada have all made efforts to preserve the horse in wild form.

IN THE WATER

Whales & Dolphins

There are three variations of the California “Whale Tail” plate (which benefits the California Coastal Commission) – 1997, 2001, and 2011 respectively. Florida and Massachusetts also have whale tails, while an orca and dolphins leap out of the water in specialties for Washington, Florida, and Mississippi.

There are three variations of the California “Whale Tail” plate (which benefits the California Coastal Commission) – 1997, 2001, and 2011 respectively. Florida and Massachusetts also have whale tails, while an orca and dolphins leap out of the water in specialties for Washington, Florida, and Mississippi.

Fish

Bass (Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas), trout (Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Utah) and other fish appear on the plates above. Florida, not surprisingly, leads the pack here due to its location and its prevalence of specialty plates.

Bass (Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas), trout (Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Utah) and other fish appear on the plates above. Florida, not surprisingly, leads the pack here due to its location and its prevalence of specialty plates.

Loons

Loons breed during the summer and inhabit the wooded lakes of these states, although they are much more prevalent in Canada.

Loons breed during the summer and inhabit the wooded lakes of these states, although they are much more prevalent in Canada.

Crustaceans

There’s no denying the State Crustacean (yes, it’s a thing) of Maine: lobster. The state is the largest lobster-producing state in the U.S. and a graphic has appeared on the 1987 base as well as a 2004 specialty. It’s worth noting that lobsters are this color red only after being cooked, but they are more easily recognized by the public this way. Maryland is famous for the Blue crab, and it is located on the that state’s and Virginia‘s specialties benefiting the Chesapeake.

There’s no denying the State Crustacean (yes, it’s a thing) of Maine: lobster. The state is the largest lobster-producing state in the U.S. and a graphic has appeared on the 1987 base as well as a 2004 specialty. It’s worth noting that lobsters are this color red only after being cooked, but they are more easily recognized by the public this way. Maryland is famous for the Blue crab, and it is located on the that state’s and Virginia‘s specialties benefiting the Chesapeake.

Other Aquatic-abled Pals

Ducks float on a southern marsh, a fish and a duck inhabit the bottom of an Arizona specialty, a turtle makes a pilgrimage on a beach, and a river otter rests on a bank as the sun sets on these three specialties.

Ducks float on a southern marsh, a fish and a duck inhabit the bottom of an Arizona specialty, a turtle makes a pilgrimage on a beach, and a river otter rests on a bank as the sun sets on these three specialties.

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