Colorado Parks and Wildlife panel votes to move forward with fur-sale ban proposal; 3,300 Acres of Tolland Ranch Protected as Colorado’s Newest State Wildlife Area; Heil Valley Ranch reopens

Headlines Monday, March 9, 2026

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    Colorado Parks and Wildlife panel votes to move forward with fur-sale ban proposal; 3,300 Acres of Tolland Ranch Protected as Colorado’s Newest State Wildlife Area; Heil Valley Ranch reopens KGNU News

Colorado Parks and Wildlife panel votes to move forward with fur-sale ban proposal

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted 6–4 to accept a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity that asks regulators to stop the commercial sale of pelts from animals like foxes, beavers and martens. The meeting, held at a Westminster hotel, drew passionate testimony from both sides of the debate. 

Supporters of the petition say wildlife should be managed for conservation rather than profit and argue that many furbearer species lack solid population data. Opponents, including hunting groups, say trapping is a long-standing tradition and worry the effort is really about ending hunting altogether.

By accepting the petition, commissioners didn’t enact a ban, but they agreed to formally review the idea, keeping the heated debate over fur sales very much alive in Colorado.

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3,300 Acres of Tolland Ranch Protected as Colorado’s Newest State Wildlife Area

State leaders announced that the 3,300-acre Tolland Ranch, located between Gilpin and Boulder counties, will be permanently conserved and eventually opened to the public as a State Wildlife Area. Governor Jared Polis called the move a major step toward protecting wildlife habitat while expanding outdoor recreation for Coloradans.

For more than a century, four generations of the Toll family have cared for the ranch, first settling the land back in 1893.

The alpine property sits east of the Continental Divide and serves as an important migration corridor for elk, deer and even moose. In the spring, calves and fawns are often born there, and the area is also home to foxes, coyotes and nesting waterfowl.

The ranch includes a 3.5-mile stretch of South Boulder Creek, which could eventually offer anglers new fishing spots for brook, brown and rainbow trout.

State officials say limited hunting and fishing access could begin as early as the fall of 2026 after improvements and planning are complete

 

Heil Valley Ranch reopens

Visitors can once again hit the trails at Heil Valley Ranch in Boulder County after a small wildfire forced temporary closures.

County officials say the open space has now reopened to the public, though the Wapiti Trailhead remains closed for now. Most other trails are back open, giving hikers, runners and mountain bikers access to the popular foothills destination once again.

The fire burned about seven acres, smoldering through grass and forest understory in an area that had already been impacted by previous wildfire damage. Officials say no homes or structures were ever threatened, and crews were able to quickly contain the flames.

Officials say trails could temporarily close again if muddy conditions develop.

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More Than 1,000 Drivers Affected by Contaminated Fuel in Colorado

A valve was accidentally left open at a fuel facility operated by HF Sinclair, allowing diesel fuel to mix with regular gasoline before it was delivered to gas stations. The contaminated fuel was sent to nearly 50 stations across the region and eventually sold to customers.

Officials estimate more than 1,000 drivers were affected after filling up their tanks, with many reporting cars that sputtered, stalled or wouldn’t start at all. Some drivers noticed problems immediately after leaving the pump.

Investigators say about 1.6 million gallons of fuel were contaminated during the incident. Roughly 365,000 gallons had already been sold before the problem was discovered early the next morning.

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You can hear daily headlines on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show, with coverage of local and regional public affairs and news with headlines and commentary. Click here to listen to full episodes of the Morning Magazine.

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