Picture this: you are a resident of Colorado, and you have passionately dedicated your life to your business. You have sourced your materials legally and responsibly only to find that the very foundation of your profession will soon become illegal, forcing you to either put down your passion or move away from your close friends and family.

Unfortunately, this has become the reality of Chandra Ahlquist, a local taxidermist and wildlife artist. Although her animal pelts are legally and ethically sourced, the petition against the fur trade has been set in motion as of June 2025, and will be proposed and considered in early May of 2026. If the  Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission passes, it will impact her ability to continue her business practices due to the outlawing of the commercial fur trade within the state of Colorado. 

Although some activists may argue that selling fur is disrespectful to animal populations, Ahlquist uses her animal pelts responsibly, aiming to encourage others to respect wildlife, not take it for granted.

“I think education is a powerful tool for conservation,” Ahlquist said. “And through my work, I aim to foster a deeper appreciation for wildlife by preserving animals in a way that honors their natural beauty. My goal is to encourage others to value and respect them.”

Although the petition would not directly outlaw hunting, it will prohibit any commercial sale and trade of, but not limited to, pelts, claws and even products containing leather. This alone could vastly discourage the practice or the sale of hunting licences, now that the original financial incentive to use animal products would become outlawed. 

For decades, biologists in Colorado have used science-based wildlife management. The fur ban could significantly affect how we manage populations and collect data on various species. This is because, without commercial sale taking place, it could reduce state conservation funding once trapping is no longer used for both its resources and population management.

“Hunters and trappers are the ‘boots on the ground’ so to speak when it comes to monitoring the health and size of wildlife populations,” Ahlquist said. “Hunting provides incentives to aid in collecting data about these species, but hunting and trapping licenses alone fund more that 60% of our state’s wildlife agency budget. Those funds go towards protecting vulnerable species and habitats, and maintaining our Colorado wilderness. Banning fur would, in many ways, mean defunding our parks and wildlife agency and would be a slap in the face to those who deeply care about our wildlife.”

While trying to get in touch with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, I faced a few challenges. The petition has become increasingly controversial, even causing many wildlife experts to avoid further questioning on the subject. However, limited information provided by Justin Olson, a member of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, emphasized the importance of the state’s preferred method of hunting, fishing, and trapping to control wildlife populations. 

“We will always deploy science-based management decisions to protect our wildlife,” Olson said. “With many checks and balances in place to ensure overharvest does not happen.”

Ahlquist hopes to support biologists in this aspect, using pelts from ethical resources such as trappers to both help manage populations and create artwork that can be enjoyed for years to come.

 “My shop actively supports wildlife conservation by respecting and promoting the role that regulated hunting and population management play in maintaining healthy ecosystems,” Ahlquist said. “Many of the animals I work with come from programs designed to prevent overpopulation and support biodiversity.”

If this ban passes, many local businesses and wildlife programs would not be able to continue their practices in Colorado, catering to activists’ subjective beliefs rather than the input of trained biologists. As a community, we should spread awareness and vote against this petition since the fur trade can be an ethical and sustainable practice if done responsibly and with the help and regulation of wildlife professionals. To attend future hearings or submit your input, visit EngageCPW.org. The commission is scheduled to review the issue paper during its July 16–17, 2026, meeting. Final rulemaking and a potential adoption vote may occur as late as September 2026.