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A close up of the face of a Sierra Nevada Red Fox at the edge of a forest in Deschutes County, Oregon.
Washington, D.C.

Court Rules Habitat Must Be Protected After FWS Attempts to Waive Protections for Less Than 40 Sierra Nevada Red Fox

Defenders of Wildlife earned a significant victory for the Endangered Species Act today when a federal district court found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to not designate critical habitat for the endangered Sierra Nevada red fox was a violation of the law.
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Three sea otters float in the water. There are hills or mountains in the distance in the background.

Construction on Gateway to Road through Izembek Continues

The Ninth Circuit today denied Defenders of Wildlife’s emergency motion to halt construction on King Cove Corp.’s 2.8-mile road segment leading to the doorstep of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness. Defenders’ request for immediate injunctive relief marks the latest stage in its larger effort to block a damaging and precedent-setting road from King Cove to Cold Bay, Alaska, that would plow through the heart of Izembek.
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sea otter eye contact, CA

Rooted in Resilience: Sea Otter Awareness Week Returns for its 24th Year

Sea Otter Awareness Week is sponsored and organized by Defenders of Wildlife, Sea Otter Savvy, California State Parks, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Elakha Alliance and The Marine Mammal Center. Learn more about sea otters during Sea Otter Awareness Week at upcoming in-person and virtual events in California and Oregon.

Press Releases

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Pipeline cutting across landscape
Washington, DC

Defenders Applauds Exclusion of Manchin’s “Dirty Deal” from Government Funding Bill

After heavy pushback from Defenders of Wildlife and many other environmental groups, a broad spectrum of nonprofits, frontline communities, and members of Congress, Senate leaders announced that the permitting agreement championed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), coined the “Dirty Deal,” will not be attached to the upcoming government funding bill.
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Swift foxes
Harlem, Mont.

Successful Swift Fox Reintroduction Program at Fort Belknap Celebrates Third Year

With the release of 25 swift foxes planned later this week, the Fort Belknap Indian Community celebrated the third year of its swift fox recovery program. The reintroduction program has, so far, returned 103 swift foxes to Tribal lands and monitoring show that the foxes are reproducing in the wild, a critical measure of success for a self-sustaining population.
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Sacramento, Calif.

California Supreme Court Upholds Ruling that Protects Bees Under State ESA

Four species of imperiled bumble bees native to California remain eligible for protection under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) after the state’s Supreme Court denied efforts by agricultural and pesticide interests to appeal a lower court's decision.
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Sea Otter Awareness Week 2022 logo
Sacramento, Calif.

Defenders Marks 20th Anniversary of Sea Otter Awareness Week

Defenders of Wildlife and Sea Otter Savvy marked the 20th annual Sea Otter Awareness Week with a series of events focusing on the path to coexistence that reflects the challenge of managing human efforts to sustain wildlife and habitat diversity.
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Sandhill Cranes against sunset and clouds

Defenders of Wildlife Opposes “Dirty Deal” Permitting Agreement

Defenders of Wildlife is joining dozens of other environmental organizations opposing the “Dirty Deal” permitting agreement championed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). If passed, the
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