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Florida panther
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Submits Technical Comments and Over 8,400 Public Comments in Efforts to Stop Harmful ESA Proposals

Defenders of Wildlife today submitted its technical comments opposing the Trump administration’s proposals to weaken the Endangered Species Act’s implementing regulations.
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black-footed ferret at the nat'l black-footed ferret conservation center
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Slams SPEED Act as it Speeds Toward Habitat Destruction

Defenders of Wildlife condemns Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) SPEED ACT, H.R. 4776 the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act, ahead of Thursday’s expected floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Roaming mountain goat
Washington, D.C.

ESA Amendments Act Poses a Historic Threat to America’s Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife remains on high alert as it braces for the House Natural Resources Committee’s full markup of Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) Endangered Species Amendments Act of 2025. More aptly labeled the Extinction Act, the bill seeks to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act, stripping away decades of crucial protections for America’s wildlife and their habitats.

Press Releases

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Piping plover mom and chick
Washington, DC

New Study Shows Agency Plans Inadequate to Protect Endangered Animals from Climate Change

Research lead by Defenders of Wildlife reveals agencies charged with protecting animals listed under the ESA are not adequately addressing threats from climate change.
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Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
Tucson, Ariz.

Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl May Get Protected Again

As part of a lawsuit, the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife today obtained a court-enforceable deadline — Aug. 5, 2021 — for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide whether the pygmy owl should again be protected as an endangered species.
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Southern_Resident_Orca
Seattle, WA

Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force Releases Final Year Two Report to Gov. Inslee

Washington’s Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force today released the final version of its recommendations in year two for saving southern resident orcas from extinction.
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Organ-pipe-cactus-national-monument

ADVISORY: Rally to Stop the Border Wall, Save Organ Pipe National Monument

Supporters of Organ Pipe and those who oppose a border wall slashing through this precious and sacred land are taking a stand.
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California-spotted-owl
Washington, DC

California Spotted Owl Denied Critical Federal Protections

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will deny the California spotted owl federal Endangered Species Act protections.
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
jpetrequin@defenders.org
(202) 772-0243
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268