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Northern Spotted Owl in Tree
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Expands Legal Challenge to Trump Administration’s Assault on Endangered Species Act

Defenders of Wildlife today filed an amended complaint challenging the Trump administration’s escalating effort to dismantle longstanding protections for threatened and endangered wildlife under the Endangered Species Act.
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Salt Marsh - Cumberland Island
ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

NPS Land Swaps and Visitor Plan Open the Door to Devastating Impacts at Cumberland Island

In advance of a public hearing on proposed land exchanges on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Defenders of Wildlife called on the National Park Service to remedy a host of management issues facing one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands on the East Coast.
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2019.08.07 - Florida Panther looking straight at camera - MS 45 - fStop Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.

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.

Press Releases

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Franklin's bumble bee
Sacramento, CA

Conservationists and California Fish and Game Commission Pursue Appeal to Ensure Legal Protections for Imperiled Bumble Bees

Today, Center for Food Safety, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Xerces Society, represented by Stanford Environmental Law Clinic, announced they are appealing a November 2020 decision by the Sacramento County Superior Court.
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southern resident orca
Boise, Idaho

Idaho Legislative Package Kick-starts Northwest Salmon and Energy Discussions

This weekend Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) announced a comprehensive legislative package that seeks to recover salmon throughout the Pacific Northwest, update our outdated energy infrastructure, and invest in community infrastructure needs throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
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Polar Bear
Washington, DC

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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Gray Wolf

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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Ocelot
Washington, DC

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.
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