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Stefan Ekernas
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Welcomes Stefan Ekernas as New Vice President of Species Conservation & Coexistence

Defenders of Wildlife is proud to announce Stephan Ekernas as its new Vice President of Species Conservation and Coexistence, where he will oversee Defenders’ field conservation programs.
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brown bear
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Trump Administration Opens Door to Bear Baiting, Den Hunting in Alaska Preserves

The National Park Service finalized a regulation that abdicates the agency's responsibility to manage wildlife in Alaska's national preserves, deferring instead to state regulations. Defenders of Wildlife condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.
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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.

Press Releases

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Two gray wolf pups in a field with flowers
Washington, DC

National Strategy to Protect our Nation’s Biodiversity Reintroduced to New Congress

As a result of human-related activities, the loss of species is accelerating faster than ever before in human history according to scientists. While there are
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Golden-cheeked warbler
Washington, D.C.

New Research Finds 5 Factors Key to Recovering Endangered Species

New research, published today in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science, identifies five main factors associated with recovering species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The factors underscore actions that decision-makers can take to accelerate the recovery of imperiled species.
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wind turbines
Washington, DC

New Executive Orders Prioritize Climate, Wildlife and Public Lands

Today, President Biden released a second round of conservation-related executive orders as part of a broader package to act on climate. These orders expand on
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Bald eagle sitting at the top of an evergreen tree
Washington, DC

New Report Advances Climate Adaptation Plans for Wildlife

This week, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies announced the release of a new report “ Advancing the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate
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Red wolf in Alligator River NWR
Raleigh, NC

Court Sides with World’s Most Endangered Wolf

Last week, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must resume releasing captive Red Wolves into the wild, a major victory for the species. The case, filed on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife, Red Wolf Coalition and Animal Welfare Institute by the Southern Environmental Law Center, will help bolster the wild population which resides in the Red Wolf Recovery Area in Eastern North Carolina.
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