Faced with a proposed statewide ban on mountain lion and bobcat hunting, a broad coalition was needed to defend science-based wildlife management and preserve effective conservation practices.
Challenge
A proposed 2024 ballot measure in Colorado sought to ban the hunting and trapping of mountain lion and bobcats—a direct threat to science-based wildlife management and decades of conservation policy.
55% of Colorado Voters
Rejected Prop. 127
Strategy
- Establish the Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better issue committee to facilitate a robust campaign representing a diverse coalition of stakeholders.
- Develop campaign messaging matrix firmly based in research.
- Leverage multi-faceted tools to educate Colorado voters on the risks of Prop. 127 through research tested messages.
- Challenge Prop. 127 at all stages of the ballot initiative process through legal challenges.
RESULT
Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve Better (CWDB), successfully defeated Prop. 127 on Election Day in 2024, with 55% of Colorado voters rejecting the measure. Through its efforts, CWDB and it diverse coalition members were able to defeat a harmful ballot measure that would have upended the future of science-based wildlife management in Colorado, posing threats to communities across Colorado.
