Mark Surls

COLORADO STATE REPRESENTATIVE 

Mark’s unique career path has taken him from trading stocks to living in a village in sub-Saharan Africa while in the Peace Corps, to stay-at-home dad and wildlife advocacy. He has always followed his heart and passions through his diverse life choices. Along the way, he has learned that open and honest communication with people is one of the best ways to ensure our planet thrives and is left in a better state for our next generations.

One of the most powerful ways Mark has learned to inspire compassion for our wild neighbors and spaces is through art. Being a contributor for Project Coyote’s Capture Coexistence Campaign, not only brought his photography to the public, but it also connected him with other photographers that felt the same way. Many of his images that he has contributed to the campaign can also be found in one of his proudest accomplishments, a published book of original photos and poetry, Coyote Conversations. In this book, he aimed for one goal, to shine a different and more compassionate light on an often overlooked and mistreated animal on the North American landscape, the coyote.

While spending countless hours in the field, observing, and admiring the coyote, Mark felt that he wasn’t doing everything he could to protect America’s carnivores. He then foraged a path into wildlife advocacy. Starting by volunteering his time to fight to reform policies, both in corporations and within our government. He tirelessly works on some of the biggest issues that face carnivores today: senseless killing of wildlife by poison, trophy hunting and trapping. He was an early member of the coalition of local and national supporters to end trophy hunting of mountain lions and trapping of bobcats in Colorado, while also providing future protections to the Canada lynx. He is now a staff member for the ballot initiative, Cats Aren’t Trophies, where he serves as the group’s State Volunteer Coordinator. He has fallen in love with the cats and the volunteers who spend their free time collecting signatures for the campaign. He hopes to continue spreading compassion and coexistence with Project Coyote as our new Colorado State Representative.