LITTLE ROCK — Precious few creatures of the night inspire as much awe in hunters and nonhunters alike as the barred owl. The rhythmic “Who cooks for you” cadence of this large nocturnal raptor is one of the most recognizable sounds of early spring mornings as the woods begin to awaken and the members of the night shift settle in for a day of sleep. Now, thanks to the true-to-life details captured in this year’s Conservation License Plate, motorists will see these fantastic feathered predators day and night on roads across The Natural State.
This year’s plate was designed by Greta James, a talented illustrator and art director at the AGFC. James has inked each of the conservation license plates since the 2017 plate, which depicted a red fox.
Eric Maynard, interim chief of the AGFC’s Education Division, says an internal selection committee at the AGFC considers many featured species each year and tries to rotate selections through game and nongame animals as well as aquatic species to ensure all Arkansans have a species that represents their passion available for purchase.