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Rice's Whale
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Slams Unlawful God Squad Vote to Strip Endangered Species Act Protection from Wildlife in the Gulf

Defenders of Wildlife strongly opposes today’s vote by the Endangered Species Committee, or God Squad, to condemn species to extinction in the name of a fictitious “national security emergency.”
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Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge at sunset
Washington, D.C.

Court Victory for Florida Wetlands Protection

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled today that permits to build in wetlands should stay in the hands of
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Willet
Washington, D.C.

Sec. of Defense Invokes False “National Security” Rationale to Eviscerate Endangered Species Act Protections for Wildlife in the Gulf

In a litigation filing yesterday in federal district court, the Trump administration publicly admitted for the first time that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum scheduled a snap meeting of the Endangered Species Committee (the “God Squad”) for March 31 at the request of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Press Releases

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Wildlife Nation
Washington, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Partners with Jeff Corwin on New Wildlife Conservation TV Show on ABC

Defenders of Wildlife and Litton Entertainment today announced the launch of Wildlife Nation with Jeff Corwin, a new tv show airing every Saturday morning on ABC stations nationwide. The show premiere's on October 2, 2021, and highlights the remarkable wildlife of North America and the inspiring partners working together to save them from the brink of extinction.
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North atlantic right whale
Washington, DC

NOAA Announces Insufficient Final Rule on Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan

NOAA Fisheries announced today that the final rule of Phase I modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) has been signed and sent to the Federal Register for publication.
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Lily pond in Okefenokee NWR

Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump Era Water Rule Change, Offering Hope for Okefenokee

Today, A federal judge struck down a Trump administration replacement rule that significantly curtailed the effectiveness and scope of the Clean Water Act.
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Photo Austin James Jr -Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

New Video Footage Surfaces of Wolf in Southern California

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDWF) has announced that a collared gray wolf was seen on trail camera footage in mid-May on private property in southwestern Kern County. It’s possible that this was OR-93, whose GPS collar went completely silent in early April 2021, raising concerns that the young male wolf may no longer be alive.
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New Mexico wildlife
Albuquerque, NM

New Mexico Formally Commits to Biden’s America the Beautiful Plan

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order (EO) today focused on protecting New Mexico’s biodiversity, carbon stores and natural working lands. Despite being rich in species of plants and wildlife, only 5% of New Mexico’s lands and waters are protected with biodiversity as the priority.
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