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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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Right Whale
Savannah, GA

Days-Old North Atlantic Right Whale Calf Struck by Ship

The fourth North Atlantic right whale calf born this season has already been severely wounded. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced Thursday morning that the calf had two “parallel and s-shaped” injuries along its body, consistent with wounds caused by boat propellers.
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Florida panther
Washington, DC

New App Tracks State-specific Endangered Species Protections

For more than 45 years, the U.S. federal government has played a critical roel in protecting endangered and threatened species through the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
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Polar Bear
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Removes Climate Change from NEPA Planning Process

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced proposed regulatory changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
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Snowy owl - Damon Point State Park, Washington
Washington, DC

Congress Acts to Restore Vital Protections for Migratory Birds

WASHINGTON (January 8, 2019) – Today Representative Lowenthal (D-CA) with 18 bipartisan original co-sponsors introduced the Migratory Bird Protection Act (H.R. 5552) to restore longstanding
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Fort Peck Bison Release Bull on Hill
Helena, MT

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Signs Off on Bison Management Plan

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks today announced the completion of Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the restoration of bison in the state. This EIS is the first official decision in favor of reintroducing wild free-ranging bison to their historic range outside of Yellowstone National Park. The EIS paves the way for the agency to now consider site-specific proposals for the state’s management of bison as wildlife.
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