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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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Defenders of Wildlife Statement on Governor Inslee's Letter on Washington Wolf Recovery
Statement by Quinn Read, Northwest Program Director for Defenders of Wildlife, on Governor Jay Inslee’s letter to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for changes to the wolf recovery program in Washington state
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Lawsuit Filed to Protect Dunes Sagebrush Lizard in New Mexico, Texas
Conservation groups filed a lawsuit in federal district court today challenging the Trump administration’s continued failure to protect severely imperiled dunes sagebrush lizards under the
Defenders of Wildlife Receives Aquatic Habitat Connectivity Grant for Santa Fe National Forest
To better protect aquatic and riparian species in New Mexico, Defenders of Wildlife has been awarded a grant from the New Mexico’s Department of Game and Fish’s Share with Wildlife program.
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Governor Newsom’s Veto Puts Water Agencies’ Threats Above Environmental Protection
California's Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1 (SB1) last night, a bill that would defend California's water, air and wildlife from rollbacks from the Trump administration.
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Senate Votes to Terminate National Emergency Declaration
Today, the Senate voted to pass a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency declaration made by President Trump in an attempt to bypass Congress
jcovey@defenders.org
