“Keep Texas Wild” is somewhat similar to the slogan “Keep Austin Weird,” but it’s for a good cause. “Keep Texas Wild” license plates feature a picture of the Texas horned lizard. The plates cost a little more, but some of the money is used to support wildlife conservation.
Texas Conservation Plate
Texas Parks & Wildlife offers its wildlife conservation license plate featuring the Texas Horned Lizard, which benefits wildlife diversity efforts in Texas.
The Conservation “Keep Texas Wild” (Horned Lizard) plate costs just $30 in addition to regular vehicle registration fees, with $22 used to support conservation of wildlife diversity and habitat in Texas.
Order your license plate today ===>
Please complete and return the application form with your check to:
Vehicle Titles & Registration Division (SPB)
Texas Department of Transportation
Austin, TX 78779-0001
Once common throughout the state, the horned lizard is now a rare sight to behold and symbolizes the need for conservation. In fact, the official reptile of Texas is now a state threatened species.
TCU Magazine (Spring 2001)
Today three species of horned frogs are found in Texas: The more common Texas horned lizard is found throughout the state (except extreme East Texas), while the roundtailed and mountain short-horned lizards are restricted to the western areas of the state. The Texas horned lizard was named the official state reptile in 1992. It and the mountain short-horned are both protected under state regulations. Efforts such as those by the Texas chapter of the Horned Lizard Conservation Society (http://homepage.psy.utexas.edu/homepage/staff/brooks/hlcs/index.asp) are under way to bring the roundtail under that same protective cover.
Though it’s illegal now to “own” a horned toad in Texas, you can flash one across your automobile’s license plate. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers a wildlife conservation plate featuring the Texas horned lizard. The “Keep Texas Wild” plate (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/plate/more.asp) is $25 plus regular registration fees, $20 of which is earmarked to fund wildlife conservation efforts.