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Piping Plover
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Sends Notice of Intent to Sue the Trump Administration over Rescission of ‘Harm’

Defenders of Wildlife today sent a letter to the Department of Interior and the Department of Commerce signaling its intent to sue over the administration’s rescission of the long-standing definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act.
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Pygmy Rabbit
Washington, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Raises Concerns Over Proposed BLM Rule That Would Roll Back Land Health and Grazing Safeguards

Defenders of Wildlife today submitted comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed livestock grazing regulations, urging that healthy public lands and robust public participation in land management must be a priority.
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Single manatee under water  swimming in the hot springs sanctuary in Florida
Washington, D.C.

Trump Administration Rescinds ‘Harm’ Definition, Defenders Prepares for Court

In a devastating blow to wildlife, the Trump administration today formally rescinded the regulatory definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act, eliminating the long-standing legal interpretation that habitat destruction that leads to death or injury of protected species is illegal.

Press Releases

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Panther
Washington, DC

Statement on New Videos Showing Stumbling Florida Panthers

On Monday, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shared several videos showing eight endangered panthers and one bobcat exhibiting difficulty walking. Government agencies and scientists are testing for diseases, rodenticides and other possible causes.
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Grizzly bear with cubs
Washington, DC

Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Attack on Endangered Species Act

Environmental and animal protection groups today sued the Trump administration over its new regulations that dramatically weaken the Endangered Species Act. Earthjustice filed the lawsuit on behalf of Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Parks Conservation Association, WildEarth Guardians, and the Humane Society of the United States.
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Gray wolf in green grass
Seattle, WA

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Lethally Removes Remaining Wolves and Pups from Old Profanity Territory Pack

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) killed the remaining wolves and pups from the Old Profanity Territory (OPT) pack over the weekend, under an authorization that allows lethal removal of the full pack.
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Gray wolf in green grass
Seattle, WA

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Lethally Removes 3 Wolves from Old Profanity Territory Pack

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced Tuesday that it killed three wolves from the Old Profanity Territory (OPT) pack, under an authorization that allows lethal removal of the full pack.
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Manatee with baby
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Releases Regulations Endangering Imperiled Wildlife

Disregarding more than 800,000 public comments opposing its proposal to weaken implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Trump administration finalized its sweeping rewrite of ESA regulations that undermine the conservation of threatened and endangered species.
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