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manatee
St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Manatees to Receive Nearly 2 Million Acres of Revised Protected Habitat

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Monday proposed a revised critical habitat plan that would protect 1,904,191 acres of critical habitat for the Florida
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Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs
CHARLESTON, SC

Defenders of Wildlife Statement on Dismissal of Challenge to Cape Romain Refuge Management

Defenders of Wildlife celebrates today the dismissal of a challenge by the state of South Carolina to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s authority to
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Baby Green Sea Turtles on the beach
Washington, DC

More Than 80 Conservation Groups Call on Members of Congress To Oppose New House Bill Targeting Endangered Species Act

More than 80 conservation groups representing millions of Americans are calling on members of Congress to oppose a new bill (H.R. 9533) targeting the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The “ESA Amendments Act of 2024,” which House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) is proposing, would dramatically weaken the bedrock environmental law by decreasing protections for threatened and endangered species and rewriting key portions of it.

Press Releases

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Franklin's bumble bee
SACRAMENTO

Defenders of Wildlife, Pollinator Petitioners Seek to Join Lawsuit to Protect Four CA Bee Species

Pollinator Petitioners are seeking to join in litigation to defend the Fish and Game Commission from a challenge contending that California Native Bees cannot be listed under CESA.
Washington, DC

Groups Threaten Lawsuit to Protect Imperiled Gulf and Mississippi River Species from Bonnet Carré Spillway Impacts

Today, Defenders of Wildlife and Healthy Gulf (formerly Gulf Restoration Network) posted notice of their intent to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Mississippi River Commission for violations of the Endangered Species Act in failing to consult with federal wildlife agencies on the consequences of opening the Bonnet Carré Spillway on numerous endangered and threatened species.
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Gray Wolf
Denver, CO

Statement on State Senator Donovan’s Wolf Reintroduction Bill

“While we’re encouraged by Senator Donovan’s bill to reintroduce wolves to Colorado, we cannot support the bill as it stands. The bill would prohibit reintroduction unless new funding is made available, meaning this critical effort could be held hostage. We look forward to working with Senator Donovan and suggesting changes to address these concerns.”
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Desert Tortoise Joshua Tree NP

Western Caucus Members Push Anti-Endangered Species Act Bills, Again

It’s looking like déjà vu all over again as the Congressional Western Caucus has begun to introduce another package of anti-wildlife, anti-public lands, anti-Endangered Species Act (ESA) bills. The new package of stand-alone bills is – so far – nearly identical to draft legislation the caucus released this past fall. And, like the previous package, the bills would eliminate key protections for wildlife that have been in place for more than 45 years.
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Wood Duck
Washington, DC

Statement from Defenders of Wildlife on Migratory Bird Protection Act Passing Out of the House Natural Resources Committee

Statement from Robert Dewey, Vice President for Government Relations, Defenders of Wildlife upon the Migratory Bird Protection Act passing out of the House Natural Resources
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
hhammer@defenders.org
(202) 772-0295
Communications Specialist
jpetrequin@defenders.org
(202) 772-0243