We are settling into the shorter days of winter and the end of 2024 is getting ever closer. As it clocks ticks down, it is prime time to look back on the year and reflect on our successes. Join us as we celebrate 24 wins of 2024.
Today we explore our next six wins! Some of these wins broke records for conservation, while others are helping to build a strong and better future for wildlife and people alike.
1. Defenders of Wildlife advocated for the removal of all 15 new anti-Endangered Species Act riders from the final FY24 federal spending package
More than 15 anti-ESA riders were proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024. If enacted, some of the riders would have blocked protections for the Lesser-prairie chicken, Northern long-eared bat, Dunes sagebrush lizard, Texas kangaroo rat and two species of mussels. Additional riders would have stripped protections for gray wolves in the lower-48 and grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, among others.
Defenders played a key role in successfully defeating or blocking passage of all 15 anti-ESA riders in addition to the more than 110 legislative attacks on the ESA by the 118th Congress.
2. There are now more than 250 Mexican gray wolves roaming Arizona and New Mexico
Mexican gray wolves are the smallest, most genetically distinct and one of the rarest subspecies of the gray wolf. They were listed under the ESA in 1976 after being eradicated in the wild. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released the results of its 2023 wild Mexican gray wolf population count in March 2024. This was the eighth consecutive year of population growth for the species and was the highest count with at least 257 wolves in Arizona and New Mexico since reintroduction began in 1998.
Defenders collaborates with partners to support a wildlife technician program for college students and recent graduates. This program allows hands-on experience and provides vital field support to the agencies helping to increase wolf monitoring, security, conflict-prevention and survival.
3. 116 Bison were transferred under the Bison Conservation Transfer Program
The Yellowstone Bison Conservation Transfer Program is centered on helping Native American communities restore their buffalo populations. Defenders leads the coordination and transportation efforts, including hiring the trucks and drivers from the Blackfeet Tribe to transport bison from Yellowstone to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana.
2024 marks the sixth year of the program. The 116 Yellowstone bison transferred under the program included one family group. This was the largest transfer under the program to date and was double the number than previous years.
4. 28 million acres of federal lands in Alaska, known as “D-1” lands, maintained protection
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized its decision in August to maintain protections for 28 million acres of federal lands, known as “D-1” lands. These lands include habitat critical to salmon, moose and migratory birds in Alaska.
Defenders, along with 78 Alaskan Tribes and their partners, urged the BLM to maintain these protections after the previous Trump administration had prepared five Public Land Orders attempting to lift D1-protections within Bristol Bay, Bering Sea-Western Interior, East Alaska, Kobuk-Seward and the Ring of Fire regions. These orders, thankfully, never took effect legally. By maintaining their protection, BLM has reaffirmed the importance of D-1 lands for wildlife and the surrounding communities.
5. FWS proposed to designate nearly two million acres as critical habitat for the Florida manatees
In September, FWS proposed a revised critical habitat plan following a lawsuit from Defenders and our partners. The updated designation would protect 1,904,191 acres of critical habitat for the Florida manatee. This designation is one of the largest in the history of the ESA.
Florida manatee critical habitat hasn’t been updated since the species was originally protected under the ESA in 1976. The original critical habitat did not include ‘physical and biological features’ necessary for manatee recovery, like reliable food and nearby warm waters for winter survival. The proposed rule does highlight the importance of natural warm-water sites and ample seagrass forage, though additional areas should be considered before the final designation comes out next year.
6. Defenders wrapped the 14th year of our electric fence incentive program
Defenders completed nearly 700 projects in 2024. The projects involve securing attractants such as livestock, chicken coops, beehives, gardens and garbage, to help landowners avoid conflicts with grizzly bears and other predators.
Bears follow their noses and bellies as they move across the land. An easy meal is irresistible for a bear looking to eat about 20,000 calories per day in the late summer and fall. But the close proximity with people may be fatal to the bear. In fact, human-bear conflicts are a leading cause of human-related grizzly bear deaths. Initiatives like Defenders electric fence program help keep people, their property and bears safe.
Come back next week to learn about our next set of 2024 wins, including several landmark listings of imperiled species! Missed part 1? Read about staple moments and movements that marked a new era for Defenders and wildlife in 2024 here.
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