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Snowy Plover
Washington, D.C.

President Trump Rescinds Long Standing Executive Orders Designed to Conserve Wildlife and Federal Lands from Unmanaged Motorized Recreation

President Trump last Friday issued an Executive Order rescinding EOs 11644 and 11989 which guide the management of ATVs, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, jet skis and other off-road motorized vehicles on federal lands. President Trump also ordered federal agencies to rescind or revise regulations that implement the prior EOs.
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wolverine
Washington, D.C.

House Interior Bill Attacks Crucial Protections for Imperiled Wildlife and Public Lands

Defenders of Wildlife today slammed the House Appropriations Committee’s proposed Interior and Environment spending bill for Fiscal Year 2027, which includes numerous damaging policy riders intended to weaken the Endangered Species Act and undermine protections for individual species.
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gray wolf laying in snow looking at the camera
Denver, CO

Defenders Backs Colorado, Calls on Federal Government to Push Onward with Gray Wolf Reintroduction

Defenders of Wildlife sent a comment letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today in response to a public request for information, urging continued

Press Releases

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Stikine-LeConte Wilderness Area, Tongass National Forest
Washington, DC

Biden’s Climate Leadership Summit Calls for Immediate Action

Earth Day is apropos for President Biden to hold his first-ever virtual Leaders Summit on Climate. Attended by 40 world leaders, this two-day summit underscores
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Climate Strike DC Wide Shot Capitol Lawn
Washington, DC

House Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Outdoor Access, Imperiled Species Habitat

Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) reintroduced a bill today to authorize funding for the Legacy Roads and Trails Act.
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Banggai cardinalfish
Washington, DC

U.S. Wildlife Officials Petitioned to Ban Import, Sale of Banggai Cardinalfish

Conservation groups filed a petition today urging NOAA Fisheries to ban the import and sale of threatened Banggai cardinalfish from Indonesia. The Banggai cardinalfish, a coral reef inhabitant known for its bold black bands and white-speckled fins, has seen its numbers plummet by as much as 90 percent since the 1990s, due to decades of overexploitation by the aquarium trade.
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Wood Duck
Washington, D.C.

DOI Announces $78 Million in Funding for Wetland Conservation and National Wildlife Refuges

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced that $78 million in grants were approved to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conserve or restore nearly 500,000 acres habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other migratory birds across North America.
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A 100 lb adult male wolf was GPS radio-collared in the Mt Emily unit
Portland, Ore.

Oregon’s Wolf Population Continues to Increase Despite Poaching, Conflicts

Oregon is now home to 22 confirmed wolf packs, according to the state’s annual wolf report. The report, released by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), shared that the total wolf population was reported at an estimated173 wolves. This is an increase of 15 individuals, and 17 of the 22 packs contain breeding pairs.
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