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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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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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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.
Press Releases
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New Forest Plan in Colorado Pushes Logging Over Land and Wildlife Conservation
The U.S. Forest Service recently released its much-anticipated draft revised forest plan and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Colorado’s Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison
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District Court Voids Permits for ConocoPhillips' Willow Project
Defenders of Wildlife and five allied groups celebrate today’s U.S. District Court decision protecting the health of Arctic communities by upholding the law and voiding the flawed Trump-era approvals and permits for the ConocoPhillips’s Willow Master Development Plan.
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Changes Sought for Florida Manatee Critical Habitat as Deaths Set New Record
Conservation organizations today filed a formal notice of their intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to revise outdated critical habitat for Florida manatees.
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Congrats, It’s a Parrot! 12 Endangered Scarlet Macaw Nestlings Ready to Leave the Nest Box
In outstanding news and a win for endangered wildlife, 12 new scarlet macaw nestlings are about ready to fledge and leave the nest boxes Defenders
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Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation Includes Vital Funding for Wildlife
The U.S. Senate today passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The wide-ranging legislation includes vital funding for wildlife crossings, habitat improvements, native vegetation and invasive
jcovey@defenders.org
