Image
Trump Administration Opens Door to Bear Baiting, Den Hunting in Alaska Preserves
The National Park Service finalized a regulation that abdicates the agency's responsibility to manage wildlife in Alaska's national preserves, deferring instead to state regulations. Defenders of Wildlife condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.
Image
BLM Prepares Illegal Move to Open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge to Oil & Gas, a Dangerous Precedent for Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is calling on BLM to withdrawal an unprecedented proposal to open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in Utah to new oil and gas leasing.
Image
A Much-Needed Win for Wildlife: Senate Introduces Bill to Improve Endangered Species Act Implementation
Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Pete Rickets (R-NE) today introduced the Improving Species Recovery Act, an important bipartisan bill that would improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
Press Releases
Image
23 Species Lost to Extinction
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced their proposal to remove 23 species from the list of threatened and endangered species protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) today because they are believed to be extinct. These species join the list of 11 others previously delisted due to extinction, and the hundreds of other scientists estimate have been lost in the last 200 years.
Image
Urban Refuge in California Will Help Protect Biodiversity and Increase Equitable Access to Nature
Habitat loss is one of the main drivers of the biodiversity crisis and today, Urban National Wildlife Refuge Day, is a call to action. We must act to protect habitat for imperiled species and provide access to nature for all- specifically in Riverside County, California, one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation.
Image
Desert Conservation Groups Cheer Signing of Assembly Bill 1183
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1183, bringing California’s desert region essential funding for conservation, recreation, and environmental education projects. Assembly Member James C. Ramos authored AB 1183, which will establish the Desert Conservation Program under the state’s Wildlife Conservation Board.
Image
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.
Image
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.
jcovey@defenders.org
