Celebrating Baldies

Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, bald eagles are soaring high once again over Wisconsin. Now, motorists can celebrate this accomplishment with a striking, one-of-a-kind license plate featuring an image of an eagle landing on the waters of the Mississippi River. Displaying this plate also lays the foundation for the next conservation effort.

The eagle license plates are being printed and stamped this month and the Division of Motor Vehicles will be filling orders starting Sept. 1. The form to order the plate is now online and in DMV offices.

Purchase of the eagle specialty license plate includes a $25 annual donation to the Endangered Resources Fund, which pays for work by DNR’s Natural Heritage Conservation staff and partners to protect and restore rare plants and animals and unique natural areas. License plate sales are a critical source of funding for that work.

The eagle specialty plate can be purchased at any time; motorists do not need to wait for a registration renewal notice. Orders can be placed by going to the Department of Natural Resources’ website, dnr.wi.gov, and searching for “eagle plate.” Order forms are also available to download from the Department of Transportation Endangered Resources license plates website and at local DMV service centers.

The photograph featured on the plate was submitted by Troy Hattemer showing an eagle landing in the backwater sloughs of the Mississippi River near Hager City, Wis. Hattemer’s image was among more than 2,000 submitted by citizens for consideration.