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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.
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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.

Press Releases

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Caribou in the Arctic Refuge
Washington, DC

House Budget Bill Invests in Natural Infrastructure to Benefit Wildlife and People

The House of Representatives’ version of the Biden administration's $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better” Act was packaged together and passed by the House Budget Committee on Saturday and includes titles from both the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees.
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Manatee with baby
Washington, DC

40,750 People Sign Defenders of Wildlife Petition to Stop Manatee Deaths

This weekend, Defenders of Wildlife sent a petition with 40,750 signatures to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), urging swift and meaningful action to prevent more manatee deaths in Florida.
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Lesser Prairie Chicken
Washington, DC

No Time to Waste: Lesser Prairie-Chicken Needs Endangered Species Protections Now

With the public comment period now closed and consideration for protections underway, Defenders of Wildlife is urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to
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Bald Eagle
Washington, DC

House Re-Introduces Save Our Forests Act

U.S. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Blake Moore (R-UT) introduced the Save Our Forests Act today to address the chronic staffing shortages in National Forests
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Flat Tailed Horned Lizard in California
Washington, DC

Horned Lizards Need International Protection

Defenders of Wildlife and our partners in the Species Survival Network are urgently seeking increased protections for all 21 species of horned lizards as their
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