Colorado Parks and Wildlife releases Stakeholder Report on Furbearer Management

Travis Duncan
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-595-8294 / [email protected]

12/5/2025

DENVER — Today, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) released the findings of a months-long stakeholder engagement process that evaluated potential updates to the state’s management of furbearer species: Furbearer Stakeholder Process Management & Policy Recommendations.

The process brought together agricultural producers, sportspersons, animal welfare organizations and wildlife conservation advocates to explore opportunities to balance biological, cultural, economic and ethical considerations in the management of 16 furbearer species in Colorado.

CPW worked with third-party facilitator Peak Facilitation Group to conduct interviews, consult with a technical advisory team, and convene two stakeholder focus groups. The process revealed several areas of shared interest around furbearers, including a strong commitment to science-based wildlife management, the ethical treatment of animals, and improved public education.

The final report offers seven recommendations for CPW’s consideration, focused on balancing stakeholder values while ensuring sustainable wildlife populations and feasible enforcement.

These are not consensus recommendations from stakeholders in the two groups, but they were developed by the facilitator in an effort to balance the preferences and perspectives of members of both groups.

Issues raised by some stakeholders, such as banning fur commercialization and modifying coyote harvest practices, were not included among the recommendations due to substantial values-based differences between groups and existing statutory constraints. The report notes that these issues may require broader public policy discussions beyond the scope of this process.

Next Steps

CPW staff will review the report’s findings and present an overview to the Parks and Wildlife Commission at its March meeting. Any potential regulatory changes that CPW moves forward as a result of the report’s recommendations would undergo the full public rulemaking process.

"We would like to extend our appreciation to those participants who volunteered their time to provide valuable input to this process," said Brian Dreher, Assistant Director of CPW's Terrestrial Wildlife Branch.