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A close up of the face of a Sierra Nevada Red Fox at the edge of a forest in Deschutes County, Oregon.
Washington, D.C.

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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Three sea otters float in the water. There are hills or mountains in the distance in the background.

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.
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sea otter eye contact, CA

Rooted in Resilience: Sea Otter Awareness Week Returns for its 24th Year

Sea Otter Awareness Week is sponsored and organized by Defenders of Wildlife, Sea Otter Savvy, California State Parks, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Elakha Alliance and The Marine Mammal Center. Learn more about sea otters during Sea Otter Awareness Week at upcoming in-person and virtual events in California and Oregon.

Press Releases

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ocelot caught on camera
Los Fresnos, Texas

Rare Sighting of a Male Ocelot

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge announced today the sighting of a new male ocelot on the refuge, as captured by camera trap photos.
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Mountain lion drinking
VENTURA, Calif.

Conservation Groups File Motions to Defend Ventura County Wildlife Connectivity

Conservation organizations filed two legal motions today to defend Ventura County’s innovative wildlife connectivity ordinances—the first of their kind in California.
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Mexican_gray_wolf
Tucson, Ariz.

More than 40,000 Commenters Weigh in on Mexican gray wolves

Despite the challenges to public outreach in the midst of the global pandemic and stay-at-home orders, supporters of effective science-informed recovery of the critically endangered “lobos” submitted more than 40,000 comments.
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Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle being released at Bon Secour NWR
Bangor, ME

President Trump Opens Only Marine National Monument In the Atlantic to Commercial Fishing, Threatening Pristine Habitat and Endangered Species

President Trump signed a proclamation today, reopening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument (NCSMNM) to commercial fishing activities, a devastating decision for the Atlantic Ocean’s first and only marine national monument.
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Red-shouldered hawk perched
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Moves Ahead with Plan to Strip Bird Protections

Despite nearly 200,000 public comments defending the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), the Trump administration is pushing forward with its plan to cement into law
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