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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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Congress Re-introduces Bicameral Legislation to Protect Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Following the Trump administration’s last desperate effort to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas lease sales earlier this year, members of Congress reintroduced the Arctic Refuge Protection Act.
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Montana Wildlife Faces Onslaught of Harmful Legislation
So far, 2021 is shaping up to be a rotten year for Montana’s wildlife. The newly sworn-in state legislature is threatening to undo decades of wildlife restoration and conservation work for many of the state’s most iconic species.
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Ocelots Get Their Day in Federal Court
This week a small, endangered cat in the southwest U.S. gets its defense in a federal appeals court, as Defenders of Wildlife and Sierra Club attempt to block two devastating development projects that could irreparably harm habitat for Texas ocelots and prevent their movement between the U.S. and Mexico.
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Scientists, Citizens Urge Governor DeSantis to Restore the Great Florida Riverway
Today, the Free the Ocklawaha River Coalition facilitated a press conference showcasing strong public and scientific support for Governor DeSantis to restore the Great Florida Riverway.
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2020 Sees Record Number of Conflict Prevention Projects in Montana
This past year, an unlikely partnership greatly expanded the number of human-wildlife conflict reduction projects taking place across Montana.
jcovey@defenders.org
