The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is set to decide the future of the commercial sale of legally obtained wildlife furs throughout the state. Faced with a citizens’ petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the Commission will meet in the first week of March to begin discussions on a potential ban. 

The proposed ban is a direct attack on the outdoor way of life and denies the voice of Coloradans who have repeatedly voted against similar efforts. The petition solely focuses on the sale of wild furs and would not ban the sale of factory-farmed fur. This specific ban does not protect wildlife – which is abundant and humanely harvested – but is clearly aimed at stopping a traditional way of life that has been practiced in Colorado for centuries. In addition, voters in the Centennial State have resoundingly denied proposed fur bans and attacks on the practice in the last election cycle. In 2024, the residents of Denver voted against a proposed fur ban (Ordinance 308) with 58% of voters opposing the measure and almost 55% of voters resoundingly rejected Proposition 127, which would have banned the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats (a designated furbearer). 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife receives significant funding from the sale of furbearer permits. Any ban would reduce the department’s funding, which is already faced with a significant financial deficit. In addition, the recommendations from a stakeholder advisory group created by the Commission decline to recommend any ban on the sale of wildlife furs given healthy populations, management need, and strong interest among the stakeholder community.