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Washington, DC

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.
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Jake Li Testimony at EPW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

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.
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Porcupine caribou making its way through deep snow on the East Fork of the Chandalar River
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Enough is Enough: Senate Blocks Yet Another Attempt to Prioritize Drilling in the Arctic

The Senate today blocked an attempt to pass S. 5438, introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). The bill would have ratified and approved all authorizations, permits, verifications, extensions, biological opinions, incidental take statements and any other approvals or orders issued pursuant to federal law necessary for the establishment and administration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program, among other purposes.

Press Releases

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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
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North Fork of the American River from a high bank covered in wildflowers
Sacramento, CA

Drought Package Offers Relief for California’s Wildlife

Today, California State Senate leaders introduced a drought relief package to blunt the impacts of expected water shortages following an extremely dry winter.
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Bald eagle sitting at the top of an evergreen tree
Washington, DC

Congress Introduces Legislation to Protect Wildlife

On April 28, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) introduced legislation to protect wildlife and natural resources from the effects of climate
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