This year is sure to present each of us with moments of pride and excitement, upsetting decisions and opportunities to stand up for what we believe in. Defenders of Wildlife is ready to take on all of this in 2025. We will continue to be a voice for the voiceless and work to protect wildlife in the courts, on the ground and in Congress. And know that with your continued support we will emerge victorious.
Take a look at 25 wishes and goals our staff has for 2025! Then, bookmark this page and see how many of these wishes we make come true throughout the year ahead.
Wishes for Wildlife
1. "The survival and return of American bison to Indigenous and public grasslands is one of the great conservation successes of the 20th century. We are excited in 2025 to continue this legacy by helping conserve Plains bison herds across the continent, from Canada to Mexico.” – Chamois Andersen, Senior Field Representative, Rockies and Plains Region
2. “The next year will be essential to advance the recovery of Red Wolves. We will continue to engage in collaborative dialogue with our partners and bring attention to the ways people can better share the landscape and support a culture of coexistence.” – Heather Clarkson, Southeast Outreach Representative
3. “We hope the Cook Inlet belugas population continues to increase in size and benefit from additional management actions that restrict pollution and other industrial development in Cook Inlet in 2025.” – Ragen Davey, Alaska Marine Representative
4. "Grizzly bears' future is now uncertain, but we are more determined than ever to strengthen our relationships with communities in bear country. We will continue to strive for reduced human-bear conflicts through our coexistence program and hope to see more cities establish themselves as BearSmart in 2025." – Erin Edge, Senior Field Representative, Rockies and Plains Region
5. “Manatees are one of the most beloved species in Florida. We will continue to advance efforts to designate and expand critical habitat while working to protect and restore warm water habitats vital to their survival.” -Elizabeth Fleming, Senior Florida Representative
6. “We wish the Arctic Refuge coastal plain remains free of oil and gas leases in 2025 so polar bears, caribou and millions of nesting birds can continue their lifecycles there unimpeded by these activities and infrastructure.” – Patrick Lavin, Alaska Policy Advisor
7. "As Mexican gray wolf numbers continue to grow in the Southwest, we are asking the Fish and Wildlife Service to open up more suitable habitat to the north so wolves may, once again, roam from Canada to Mexico." – Craig Miller, Senior Arizona Representative
8. “The future of our Chinook salmon is now uncertain, but we are more determined than ever before to amplify the need for a healthy Bay-Delta Estuary. We hope to see an updated Bay-Delta Plan, the rejuvenation of our endangered wild salmon runs and California establish itself as a leader in conserving freshwater habitat in 2025.” – Ashley Overhouse, Water Policy Advisor
9. “We are looking forward to working with Congress on a Farm Bill that works for wildlife and people. Farm Bill conservation programs help farmers and ranchers implement practices that support wildlife, such as hellbenders and monarch butterflies, while also benefiting their agricultural operations.” – Mary Pfaffko, Private Lands Program Director
10. “We look forward to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife developing strong conservation management guidelines for recently state listed Southern Resident Orcas.” – Colin Reynolds, Senior Advisor, Northwest Program
11. "We are excited to partner with Indigenous Tribal members in Texas to reintroduce bison, which were nearly eliminated in the state by 1878. Reintroducing bison will increase plant and animal diversity and restore a vital cultural connection." – Azalia Rodriguez, Texas Representative
12. “Our wish for 2025 is to see Colorado’s wolf restoration program reach new heights. With more reintroduced wolves, healthy pups and successful cooperation between conservationists and livestock producers, we can ensure a thriving future for wolves and Coloradans.” – Kaitie Schneider, Rockies and Plains Representative
13. “We hope restoration of grizzly bears to the North Cascades Ecosystem begins in earnest in 2025.” – Joseph Vaile, Senior Representative, Northwest Program
14. "The ocelot, a small spotted cat once native to the Americas, is making a recovery in Texas. In the coming year, we hope to restore habitat and support ongoing efforts to conserve and reintroduce this reclusive feline." – Dr. Shari Wilcox, Senior Texas Representative
Hopes for Habitat
15. “We look forward to Proposition 4 funds supporting important new projects that advance California’s existing natural resources conservation strategies and natural and working land climate targets, prioritize long-term environmental benefits, and increase fire resilience and landscape restoration efforts. These crucial investments in water infrastructure, wildfire prevention and the preservation of natural habitats and open spaces will help address both the biodiversity and climate crises while protecting our communities.” – Pamela Flick, California Program Director
16. “We will continue to fight for the laws, regulations, and policies of our National Wildlife Refuge System to be fully implemented in the spirit they were intended: to maintain places where the needs of wildlife come first. This includes permanently protecting the Okefenokee and Ash Meadows refuges from the threat of mining on their doorsteps.” – Christian Hunt and Nathan Marcy, Senior Federal Lands Policy Analysts
17. “We wish to see progress towards the conservation of 30% of lands and waters by 2030 and the development of a stronger science-based understanding of the current status, observed trends and projections for our nation's biodiversity. Both advances would help ensure a future and home for wildlife, big and small.” - Dr. Andrew Carter, Director of Conservation Policy
18. “We hope sage-grouse populations stop declining and start recovering in 2025. This would signal the Sagebrush Sea, one of the most at-risk ecosystems in the North American continent and home to over 300 species of concern, is stabilizing.” – Vera Smith, Senior Federal Lands Policy Analyst
19. “We are fighting for Izembek Refuge’s important wetlands complex, which is a biodiversity hotspot and designated wilderness, to remain free of a proposed land exchange and road so brown bears, caribou and populations of waterfowl that depend on this area can continue to thrive.” – Nicole Whittington-Evans, Senior Director of Alaska and Northwest Programs
20. “We wish for Americans to make clear to the Trump administration that we won't stand for selling off or giving away our public lands and waters to the fossil fuel industry. We know ‘drill, baby, drill!’ leads to ‘spill, baby, spill!’ and we're going to protect wildlife and their habitat from these dirty industries.” - Sierra Weaver, Senior Attorney
Aspirations for the Administration and Congress
21. "Some in Congress seek to eliminate or weaken bedrock laws protecting wildlife. At this critical time, I look forward to expanding and mobilizing our base of wildlife advocates to remind politicians of the overwhelming public support we know exists for wildlife." — Catlin Cattelino, National Outreach Representative
22. “We expect anti-wildlife members of Congress to try to weaken the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which is designed to protect imperiled marine species. We will work with pro-wildlife members of Congress and their constituents across the country to stand up for this law that is essential to protecting the ocean habitats these marine species call home.” - Daniel Franz, Staff Attorney
23. "In recent years, the federal government has provided valuable funding to promote the use of non-lethal methods to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. I hope Congress will continue to strongly support this effort in 2025." — Dan Moss, Senior Government Relations Representative
24. “In 2025 we wish to see the best available conservation science advanced and used as the driving force in conservation decision making.” – Dr. Alison Gainsbury, Director of Conservation Science
25. “We are gearing up to combat unprecedented attacks on the Endangered Species Act and attempts to frustrate agencies doing the work this bedrock law with proven success in bringing imperiled species back from the brink requires to safeguard imperiled wildlife. Defenders will be unwavering in our defense of the ESA that Americans overwhelmingly support as we and our members work together for a brighter future for wildlife.” - Lisa Saltzburg, Senior Attorney
You can help make these wishes a reality! Follow our blog and find us on social media, add your voice to our top actions and continue to support us all year long. Thank you for fighting along side us for the protection and future of wildlife.
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