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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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Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
WASHINGTON

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Consider Endangered Listing for Dunes Sagebrush Lizard

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) agreed today to decide by June 30 whether to consider a proposal to list the dunes sagebrush lizard under the Endangered Species Act.
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Manatee with baby
Charleston, S.C.

Conservation Groups Challenge EPA’s Gutting of Clean Water Protections in Federal Court EPA Rule Paves Way for Wetlands and Small Streams Destruction

Conservation groups today challenged in federal court the administration’s effort to gut clean water protections from wetlands and streams that feed drinking-water sources for 200 million Americans and 32 million people in the South, or seven out of ten Southerners.
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Polar Bear
Anchorage, AK

Trump administration Moves Forward with Massive Oil and Gas Project During Pandemic

Despite the pandemic, the Trump administration is moving ahead with public hearings on the Willow project – a massive oil and gas development being pushed by ConocoPhillips – in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska.
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Right Whale
New York

New York Offshore Wind Alliance: Public Service Commission Gives NY An Earth Week to Celebrate

New York Offshore Wind Alliance: Public Service Commission Gives NY An Earth Week to Celebrate Authorizes NYSERDA To Solicit Nation’s Largest Offshore Wind Bids Following
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Northern Long-eared Bat
Washington, D.C.

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.
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