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House Set to Vote on Misleading Bill Blocking Regulation of Lead Ammunition on Federal Lands
The United States House of Representatives is expected this Wednesday to vote on H.R. 556 – Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025.
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First-of-its-Kind Study Sheds Light on Forest Thinning Impacts on Pinyon Jays
Though the pinyon jay population continues to decline at alarming rates, until now the threats facing it remained largely under-researched. Defenders of Wildlife, along with
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Trump Administration Calls on “God Squad” to Weaken Endangered Species Act Protections
The Trump administration today announced its intent to convene the Endangered Species Committee — colloquially known as the “God Squad”— on March 31, 2026, to consider an exemption under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for oil and gas-related activities in the Gulf of Mexico.
Press Releases
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Lawmakers, Conservation Groups Seek to Address Wildlife Trade as Source of Coronavirus Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the U.S., China reopening its wet wildlife markets. These markets, which sell animals in crowded conditions that are unsafe for both wildlife and humans, have been pegged as the most likely place the disease originally spread from wildlife species.
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Trump Administration Finalizes Irresponsible, Dangerous Waters of the U.S. Rule
Today, the Trump administration finalized a rollback to the waters of the U.S. rule. Previously, this rule protected streams, wetlands and freshwater bays and the wildlife that call them home. In New Mexico, the replacement rule could leave 90% of our waters unprotected and impact at least 20% of vertebrate wildlife.
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Annual Count Shows Washington Wolf Population is On the Rise
The wolf population in Washington has increased despite multiple lethal removals due to wolf-livestock conflict, according to the Washington Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan 2019 Annual Report, released by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Lawsuits Challenge Approval of Rio Grande and Annova Fracked Gas Export Facilities in Texas for Harm to Endangered Ocelot
Today, environmental groups filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s approval of the massive Annova LNG fracked gas export terminal proposed for southern Texas, as a companion suit to one the groups filed last week challenging the Rio Grande fracked gas export facility proposed for the same area. These projects threaten to contribute to the extinction of the endangered ocelot in the U.S.
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10th Anniversary of Deepwater Horizon Tragedy Stark Reminder of Oil, Gas Drilling Risks
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, which killed 11 people and spilled more than 210 million gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
jcovey@defenders.org
