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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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Pelicans after BP oil spill Gulf of Mexico June 2010
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Moves Ahead with Oil and Gas Drilling on Public Lands and Waters

Last week, the Trump administration moved forward with a 78 million acre lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. This rush to drill comes right before the 10th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster that occurred on April 20, 2010.
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Threatened Agassiz's desert tortoise hatchling
SACRAMENTO

Conservation Groups Petition for Stronger Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise Protections

Today, Defenders of Wildlife, along with the Desert Tortoise Council and Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to change the listing status of Agassiz’s desert tortoise from threatened to endangered.
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Manatee with baby
Washington, DC

6 Ways We’re Defending Wildlife During a National Emergency

6 Ways We’re Defending Wildlife During a National Emergency As the world is “social distancing” amid a global pandemic, Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), and communities across
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Sandhill cranes in field in Valle de Oro NWR

Trump Administration Proposes Allowing GE Crops on Thousands of Acres of National Wildlife Refuges

The Trump administration has proposed to approve genetically engineered crops on national wildlife refuges throughout the southeastern United States, a step likely to increase use of glyphosate and other pesticides known to harm wildlife.
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Northern goshawk
Washington, DC

More than 180,000 Americans Oppose Trump’s Plan to Cripple Migratory Bird Protections

AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY * CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY * DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE * NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY * NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE More
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