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2021.11.26 - A small herd of caribou in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Alaska - Katrina Liebich-UWFWS.jpeg
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

DOI Trades Away Alaskan Refuges, Sells Out Public Lands

The Trump administration dealt a blow to the National Wildlife Refuge System by removing protections from the Arctic and Izembek National Wildlife Refuges. During what
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Bison in field
Wolf Point, Mont.

Proposed Biodiversity Credit Pilot Program a First for Tribes, Healthy Grasslands

A new conservation pilot program will offer industry leaders the opportunity to contribute to the return of bison to tribal lands, which will in turn
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Southern Sea Otter on its Back with Tag on its Foot
Olympia, WA

Defenders Offers Reward for Information on Sea Otter Poaching

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that a federally protected sea otter was illegally tortured and killed in February 2025. Both FWS and Defenders

Press Releases

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Rice's Whale
Washington, DC

Defenders Statement on BOEM Rescission of Rice's Whale Recommendations

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has rescinded its Notice to Lessees and Operators, "Expanded Rice's Whale Protection Efforts During Reinitiated Consultation with NMFS," which
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Polar bears on ice
Anchorage, AK

Groups File First Environmental Lawsuit Vs. Trump Offshore Drilling Order

Today, groups concerned about the threats from offshore drilling filed the first environmental legal challenge against the new Trump administration. One group is challenging an
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National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
Washington, D.C.

Defenders' Statement on Trump Nominee for Director of Bureau of Land Management

“The administration’s nomination of Kathleen Sgamma represents a threat to the conservation of our nation’s public lands and wildlife."
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Washington, DC

Defenders Statement on ‘Restoring Energy Dominance’ Hearing

The House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources today held a hearing taking aim at science and longstanding legal protections for U.S. coastal waters, as
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Brant fly in front of Mount Dutton Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, D.C.

Burgum Signs Orders That Will Destroy Wildlife, Protected Places

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum yesterday issued a series of secretarial orders that are an attack on the Endangered Species Act, migratory bird protections and federal
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Communications Specialist
jpetrequin@defenders.org
(202) 772-0243
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268