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Northern Spotted Owl in Tree
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Expands Legal Challenge to Trump Administration’s Assault on Endangered Species Act

Defenders of Wildlife today filed an amended complaint challenging the Trump administration’s escalating effort to dismantle longstanding protections for threatened and endangered wildlife under the Endangered Species Act.
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Salt Marsh - Cumberland Island
ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

NPS Land Swaps and Visitor Plan Open the Door to Devastating Impacts at Cumberland Island

In advance of a public hearing on proposed land exchanges on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Defenders of Wildlife called on the National Park Service to remedy a host of management issues facing one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands on the East Coast.
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2019.08.07 - Florida Panther looking straight at camera - MS 45 - fStop Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Memo Underscores Trump Administration’s All-Fronts War on Wildlife

Brian Nesvik, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, issued a memorandum explaining to FWS staff that the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on unauthorized “take” applies only to affirmative acts intentionally and purposefully directed at a particular animal. This follows the Trump administration’s rescission of the regulatory definitions of “harm” under the ESA, which took effect this week.

Press Releases

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2020.05.19 - Red Fox - Laurence Grayer.JPG
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

Defenders of Wildlife Challenges FWS Unlawful Evasion of Habitat Protection for Rare Species  

Defenders of Wildlife today is challenging a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulation that allows the agency to unlawfully dodge its legal duty to designate
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Oregon coastline close to the mouth of the Columbia
Washington, DC

Defenders Statement on Biden Protections for U.S. Coasts from Offshore Drilling

WASHINGTON, DC — President Joe Biden today took action to protect over 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters from offshore oil and gas drilling
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Alligator moving through the grass to water - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge - Georgia
Folkston, Ga.

Defenders Celebrates 22K-Acre Expansion of Okefenokee Acquisition Boundary

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced its final decision to expand the acquisition boundary of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge by roughly 22,000
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Gray Wolf Stare
Denver, CO

Defenders' Statement on Illegal Shooting of Copper Creek Pack Male

Defenders of Wildlife's Michael Saul, Rockies and Plains program director, issued the following statement following today's announcement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on
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1977- Jimmy Carter - Library of Congress.jpg

Defenders Celebrates President Carter’s Impact in the Arctic

Defenders of Wildlife celebrates the life of former President Jimmy Carter who was a champion for the environment and federal land conservation in Alaska during
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
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268
Communications Specialist
estern@defenders.org
202-772-0243