Colorado’s long-standing commitment to science-based wildlife management just took a heavy blow. This past Wednesday, the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Commission ignored its own experts, its Director, and the weight of public testimony by voting 6-4 to advance a petition that would outlaw the sale and trade of wildlife fur. Make no mistake: this wasn't a vote based on population data or ecological necessity. It was a victory for the Governor’s political appointments over boots-on-the-ground expertise and historic management practices. CPW staff and others have already provided a mountain of reasons to reject this proposal—pointing out that it lacks any evidence of biological impact, contradicts state law, and relies on definitions such as" heritage" that are so vague they are practically unenforceable. Yet, a majority of the Commission chose to reject the agency’s professional staff to keep this ideological project moving forward. 

As critics pointed out during the hearing, voters in Denver recently soundly rejected Ordinance 308, a similar fur ban, by 17 percentage points in 2024. Yet, a handful of political appointees have now chosen to bypass that public mandate, pushing forward a confusing, ideological agenda that even the Commissioners themselves struggled to explain during the vote. 

During the hearing, the "North American Model of Wildlife Conservation" (NAMWC) was frequently cited, but its core principles were clearly sidelined. While the opposition tried to frame fur sales as an outdated practice directly in conflict with the NAMWC , they conveniently ignored that modern trapping is a regulated activity in the state, with low success rates (especially following Colorado’s 1996 ban of leg-hold traps), and its role in providing essential data and funding for habitat conservation. 

Photo Credit: Cassie Melvin

 By advancing this petition, the Commission is now forcing CPW staff to spend their limited resources drafting a rule that was fraught from the beginning. This is a dangerous distraction from the real crises facing our state, from budget shortfalls to the complexities of wolf reintroduction and the essential day-to-day oversight duties of the Commission. The endgame here isn't just about a pelt or a hat; many activists behind this have publicly called for a total five-year moratorium on all trapping, and this week introduced a state bill to ban the hunting and trapping of beavers on public land. They are playing the long game to dismantle Colorado’s outdoor heritage piece by piece. 

We cannot afford to be silent while the Commission ignores the recommendations of the career professionals in the very department it is supposed to lead. The fight will likely continue at the next meeting in Grand Junction this May 6th & 7th, and we need a massive showing of support for CPW staff and the  NAMWC. Attend the meeting, invite your friends, and show your support for the unbiased management of our wildlife.  This isn’t just about fur; it’s ensuring that Colorado’s wildlife decisions are made by biologists, not political appointees. The Commission needs to see that we are diligent, informed, and—most importantly—not going away. Mark your calendars for the May meeting in Grand Junction. We lost a skirmish this week, but the defense of our outdoor traditions is far from over. Show up, speak out, and let’s put the "science" back in Colorado Parks & Wildlife.