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Violet-green Swallow
ANN ARBOR, MI

Study Led by Defenders of Wildlife Scientist Shows Noise Pollution Impacts on Migratory Birds

“The major takeaway from this study is that anthropogenic noise affects many aspects of bird behavior, with some responses more directly tied to fitness,” said Natalie Madden, lead author of the new study.
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Louisiana Black Bear
Raleigh, N.C.

Defenders Receives Advocacy Organization of the Year Award

Defenders of Wildlife joined its partners in the Safe Passage coalition today to accept the Advocacy Organization of the Year Award at the 2026 Sweethearts
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Two North Atlantic Right Whales
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Raises Alarm Over Administration’s Proposal to Amend Rule Protecting North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Vessel Strikes

Defenders of Wildlife is devastated to learn that a three-year-old female North Atlantic right whale was found dead off Virginia on February 10, 2026. This

Press Releases

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Gray wolf howling
Boise, Ida.

Idaho Adopts Persecution Bill for Wolves

Gov. Brad Little has signed SB 1211 into law, which increases money from the Fish and Game Fund to the Wolf Control Fund in order to decrease Idaho's wolf populations.
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Mountains of Bridger-Teton National Forest
Washington, DC

Biden Administration "America the Beautiful" Report Emphasizes Importance of 30x30

Statement from Jamie Rappaport Clark, former president and CEO, Defenders of Wildlife on the Biden administration’s “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful" report, that emphasizes
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Washington, D.C.

Groups Call to Halt Removal of Protections for Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers

The Southern Environmental Law Center, in conjunction with Defenders of Wildlife, just sent a letter to the Fish and Wildlife Service calling on the agency to halt its efforts to remove protections for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
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Arctic tern on white
Washington, DC

Statement from Defenders of Wildlife on Proposed Migratory Bird Rule

This morning, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposed rule to revoke the January 7, 2021, final regulation that limited the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).
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Greater Sage Grouse - Wyoming
Washington, DC

Environmental Groups Urge Congress to End Harmful Sage-Grouse Rider

In a letter sent to key House and Senate appropriations committee leaders today, 80 environmental groups, including Defenders of Wildlife, are pressing for the exclusion
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Former Communications Specialist
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268