Colorado Parks and Wildlife Opens Wolf License Plate Grant Competition

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications for the Born to Be Wild License Plate Grant Program's 2026 cycle. Up to $50,000 will fund nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies to market the specialty plate. Revenue goes directly to non-lethal wolf-conflict tools ranchers depend on.

"This special license plate allows Colorado residents to support ranchers impacted by wolf depredation by providing funding for non-lethal conflict minimization tools such as turbo fladry and scare devices," said CPW Acting Director Laura Clellan. "The hope is that the license plate will continue to engage the public and increase overall sales, in turn reducing impacts with livestock so that both ranchers and wolves can thrive and coexist together in Colorado."

Applications close March 2, with awardees announced in early May. Awards range from $5,000 to $50,000, with partial funding available. Applicants should email grants specialist Amy Brandenburg at [email protected] with questions.

The plate was created by HB23-1265 and signed into law in May 2023. Each $50 annual fee goes to CPW's Wildlife Cash Fund for non-lethal wolf conflict mitigation, research, and promotion.

Nearly 18,000 plates have sold since the program's 2023 launch, raising approximately $950,000.

In 2025, CPW split the $50,000 promotion pool between the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project ($36,300 for billboards and digital media) and the Endangered Species Coalition ($13,700 for a promotional vehicle wrap).

Award amounts vary by cycle, tied directly to license plate sales—so the success of this year's marketing campaigns will determine how much funding ranchers get next year for non-lethal wolf tools.