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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Memo Underscores Trump Administration’s All-Fronts War on Wildlife
Brian Nesvik, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, issued a memorandum explaining to FWS staff that the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on unauthorized “take” applies only to affirmative acts intentionally and purposefully directed at a particular animal. This follows the Trump administration’s rescission of the regulatory definitions of “harm” under the ESA, which took effect this week.
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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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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.
Press Releases
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Statement from Defenders of Wildlife on Migratory Bird Protection Act Passing Out of the House Natural Resources Committee
Statement from Robert Dewey, Vice President for Government Relations, Defenders of Wildlife upon the Migratory Bird Protection Act passing out of the House Natural Resources
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Newly Announced Expansion of Border Wall Could Be Disastrous for Wildlife
The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration will redirect $7.2 billion in Pentagon funds to build over 800 more miles of border wall.
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Defenders Pledges Reward for Information on California Wolf Killing
Defenders of Wildlife has announced a matching pledge of $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the unsolved case of an endangered gray wolf killing in 2018.
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Defenders of Wildlife Celebrates Wolf Reintroduction, Endangered Species Act Successes
Twenty-five years ago this week, gray wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. The reintroduction not only improved the wolf’s situation, but also the entire Yellowstone ecosystem.
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Pack of Gray Wolves Discovered in Colorado Grounds for Cautious Optimism
The day after a measure to reintroduce the gray wolf to Colorado was approved for November’s ballot, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced that approximately six gray wolves have likely crossed over the Wyoming border into northwest Colorado.
jcovey@defenders.org
