For Immediate Release

A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that the federal government may not retry Cliven Bundy and his sons on charges that they led armed gunmen to block a federal cattle roundup near his Nevada ranch in 2014. Ammon and Ryan Bundy were acquitted in the armed occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Statement from Defenders of Wildlife CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark:

“The Bundy’s occupation of Malheur refuge and the armed standoff with the Bureau of Land Management were not acts of civil disobedience. They were lawless actions that threatened the lives of federal workers responsible for protecting our cherished public lands. Letting the Bundy clan off the hook again sets a dangerous precedent for future violent occupation of our federal lands.”

For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.

  

News

Image
Public Domain
Washington, D.C.

House to Vote on Gutting Bedrock Endangered Species Act

As the nation celebrates Earth Day this week, the House of Representatives will cast an historic vote on a bill to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act, which was enacted more than 50 years ago to protect America’s wildlife from extinction.
Image
gray wolf walking with paw raised and looking at camera
Olympia, WA

Washington State 2025 Wolf Count Increases, Depredations Decrease

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife today released the state’s 2025 minimum count for gray wolves at 270 individuals, a 17% increase from 2024