DENVER, Colo. — Governor Jared Polis announced the hiring of Dan Prenzlow as the new Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).

Dan is a Colorado native and brings over 33 years of experience with the agency to his new role. He currently serves as the Southeast Regional Manager for CPW and has a lifelong dedication and passion for Colorado’s natural resources and recreation opportunities.

“I am extremely pleased that Dan Prenzlow has agreed to lead Colorado Parks and Wildlife,” said Governor Polis, “Dan’s extensive experience and his knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a tremendous asset for our state. Our wildlife, state parks, hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation is what makes Colorado, Colorado. Dan is the right individual to build on the sustainable hunting, fishing and wildlife protection legacy of Parks and Wildlife while enhancing our awe-inspiring outdoor recreation opportunities for Coloradans and visitors from across the world.”

He has worked with many non-profit organizations and local governments to secure landscape-scale conservation, coordinate habitat enhancements, increase outdoor recreation opportunities for all user groups, increase hunter and angler access and the creation of a state of the art sportsman’s shooting range located on Fort Carson in Colorado Springs.   

Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s mission is to “perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado’s natural resources.”

Parks and Wildlife is overseen by an 11 member Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, a citizen board appointed by the Governor, which sets regulations and policies for Colorado’s state parks and wildlife programs.

Dan Prenzlow received his BS in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University in 1985. Following in the footsteps of his father, Prenzlow joined the Division of Wildlife in 1986 as a District Wildlife Manager patrolling the Castle Rock area. He was then promoted to Area Wildlife Manager in 1992 based in Meeker, where he served until 2005 when he became Southeast Regional Manager based in Colorado Springs.