Mountain lion license plate proposed

Nebraska drivers could show their support for mountain lions with special license plates under a bill heard by the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee Feb. 9.

Under LB474, introduced by Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, the mountain lion protection plate would be available in alphanumeric or personalized versions with designs supportive of Nebraska’s mountain lion population. The alphanumeric plate would display up to five characters and not use a county designation.

The fee for the alphanumeric plates would be $5, credited to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Educational Fund. Personalized plates would cost $40, with $10 credited to the Department of Motor Vehicles Cash Fund and $30 credited to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Educational Fund.

The commission would be required to use the educational fund to teach youth about wildlife conservation practices.

Besides creating a fund and educational program, Chambers said, the bill is designed to direct attention to Nebraska’s dwindling mountain lion population. Because of the excessive number of female mountain lions killed this hunting season, he said, survival of the species is in jeopardy.

“These animals are on the verge of being extinct once again in this state,” he said.

Angelika Byorth of Lincoln testified in support of the bill. She said the educational program paid for by the proposed fund would help mitigate the misinformation about mountain lions.

“It will help the mountain lions, who used to be indigenous to Nebraska, come back from the brink of extinction,” she said.

Timothy McCoy, deputy director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, testified in opposition to the bill. He said a specialty license plate that focused on only one species would not appeal to a wide range of Nebraskans. Adding other popular animals such as the sandhill crane and pheasant, he said, would make more money for conservation programs.

“It wouldn’t result in funding we like to see for the educational activities,” he said.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.