EUGENE, Ore. — Gray whales will soon be an option for Oregon license plates.
The new plates, featuring the image of a gray whale mother and her calf, will become available Friday at state Driver and Motor Vehicle Services offices around Oregon. The cost will be $40 to order or renew, with $35 from each plate sold going to the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, according to Oregon State University. OSU oversees the science center.
Oregon already has standard “tree” plates, with the image of a Douglas fir, and a growing variety of options. The plate possibilities include Crater Lake, Oregon Ducks and Wine Country. Money collected through additional fees for the specialty plates go to organizations supporting particular causes. Last year Keep Oregon Green, a statewide wildfire education group, earned enough support to soon offer a Smokey Bear plate.
“The (gray whale) plates should be popular because they are really striking and the proceeds go to a good cause,” said Bruce Mate, director of the science center’s Marine Mammal Institute. The money will specifically go to the institute, where officials plan to spend it on marine mammal research, graduation education and public outreach.
The state has ordered 10,000 of the gray whale plates, according to OSU. Pieter Folkens, a wildlife illustration drew the whales, and Pete McKeeman, a graphic artist, added a sea and sky background. The plates also feature the slogan “Coastal Playground.”
For more information go to bit.ly/2B2LeSz.
