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Washington monument - cherry blossoms
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Unveils 2025 Conservation Report Card for 119th Congress

Defenders of Wildlife today released its 2025 Conservation Report Card for the 119th Congress, measuring members’ commitment to upholding federal laws that protect wildlife conservation during its first session.
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Joshua tree sunset
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Sues FWS Over Extensive FOIA Request Delays

Defenders of Wildlife today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, citing the agency’s extensive delay in fulfilling eight Freedom of Information Act requests related to land exchanges within the National Wildlife Refuge System.
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08.22.25 - Bear backlit 2 -  Lake Clark National Park - Running Wild Media.jpg
WASHINGTON, DC

Trump Administration Turns its Back on Wildlife – Again

The National Park Service today proposed a regulation that would abdicate the agency from its responsibility to manage wildlife in Alaska’s national preserves and to

Press Releases

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California Tiger Salamander
Redding, CA

Fishing and Conservation Groups Sue Country's Largest Agricultural Water District Over Illegal Plot to Raise Shasta Dam

Yesterday, a coalition of fishing and conservation groups filed a lawsuit against Westlands Water District for unlawfully aiding efforts by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to raise Shasta Dam.
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Bald eagle
Washington, DC

House Appropriations Committee Moves to Fund, Protect Wildlife

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:  “Our nation’s wildlife is increasingly threatened by habitat loss, climate change and invasive species in what the United Nations has now confirmed as our planet’s sixth mass extinction. We haven’t a moment to spare. Congress must act to protect and restore wildlife by funding programs to preserve species and habitat.
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Scarlet_Macaw
Los Tuxtlas, Mexico

Report: Scarlet Macaw Reintroduction Project Celebrates Five Years

Five years after the reintroduction of scarlet macaws into the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, leaders of the reintroduction project released a report detailing its progress. The report, “Slow but sure assimilation to culture and ecotourism of reintroduced scarlet macaws in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico,” was published in the Journal of Ecotourism on April 18, 2019.
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Polar Bears
Washington

Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Leaders Respond to Alaska Governor's Letter

Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Jamie Rappaport Clark and former FWS Alaska Regional Director Geoffrey L. Haskett have issued a response to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s criticism of FWS staff.
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Border wall comparison Matt Clark/Defenders
Tucson, AZ

Trump Administration Arizona Border Proposal Would Wall Off National Wildlife Refuges

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced plans yesterday to replace 63 miles of pedestrian fencing and vehicle barrier with new bollard style wall in Pima and Cochise Counties.
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