Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance, in collaboration with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana Department of Transportation and Montgomery Distillery, hosted a celebration event in Missoula on Monday, December 8, to honor Kylie Bute for her winning design of the Montana Big Game and Wildlife Highway Crossings License Plate Artwork Contest.
The event brought together members of the outdoor conservation community, agency staff, local politicians and community members to celebrate the establishment of a new Big Game and Wildlife Highway Crossings and Accommodations fund established by the Montana legislature earlier this year. The fund, which is partially supported by sales of the new license plate, marijuana tax revenue, and private donations, will be used to support planning and construction of wildlife crossings across the state.
“My passion for art has always been about telling stories, and this design is a way to spread awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and movement,” said Kylie Bute, a June 2025 graduate of Gallatin High School. “I’m deeply appreciative and proud to know that my artwork will soon be on vehicles across our great state, helping Montanans connect with the incredible wildlife that surrounds us.”
Montana Senator Andrea Olsen attended, as did all three commissioners from Missoula County, Juanita Vero, Dave Strohmaier and Josh Slotnick. Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis was unable to attend because of a council meeting, but told GTMA that she is a big supporter of more wildlife crossings on Montana highways.
GTMA’s Wildlife Connectivity and Grants Specialist Jeff Gailus presented Bute with the first printed license plate along with a fine art print of her painting. Commissioner Slotnick auctioned off a second license plate and fine art print that raised $680 for the new Big Game and Wildlife Highway Crossings and Accommodations Account!
University of Montana professor of conservation Jedediah Brodie shared the importance of maintaining connectivity to conserving Montana’s outstanding wildlife populations.
“The ability of both motorists and wildlife to travel safely is essential to our way of life here in Montana,” said GTMA Executive Director Peter Metcalf. “The majority of Montanans have made it clear they support more investment in wildlife crossing structures, and the new Wildlife Accommodations Account and specialty license plate is a good first step in that direction.”
Bute, who beat our 29 other submissions, was announced the winner of the License Plate Artwork Contest at a Helena event at the Old Salt Co-op in mid-November. She received a $1,000 award for her creative contribution to Montana’s conservation efforts. Bute’s winning design will be available as a specialty license plate to Montana drivers this summer, with proceeds benefiting wildlife connectivity and wildlife-vehicle collision risk reduction projects through MT FWP’s newly established Big Game and Wildlife Highway Crossings and Accommodations Account. Thank you to all the artists who submitted inspirational and compelling designs.
The Montana Big Game and Wildlife Highway Crossings License Plate Artwork Contest was organized by the TRCP and supported by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana Department of Transportation, National Wildlife Federation, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance, Vital Ground Foundation, and Montanans for Safe Wildlife Passage.