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black-footed ferret at the nat'l black-footed ferret conservation center
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Slams SPEED Act as it Speeds Toward Habitat Destruction

Defenders of Wildlife condemns Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) SPEED ACT, H.R. 4776 the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act, ahead of Thursday’s expected floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Roaming mountain goat
Washington, D.C.

ESA Amendments Act Poses a Historic Threat to America’s Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife remains on high alert as it braces for the House Natural Resources Committee’s full markup of Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) Endangered Species Amendments Act of 2025. More aptly labeled the Extinction Act, the bill seeks to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act, stripping away decades of crucial protections for America’s wildlife and their habitats.
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gray wolf walking with paw raised and looking at camera
Washington, D.C.

House Vote Scheduled on Ending Gray Wolf Protections, Undermining the Endangered Species Act

The House of Representatives is expected this Thursday to vote on ending gray wolf protections, prematurely delisting gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act before

Press Releases

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Nantahala-Pisgah
Asheville, NC

Forest Service Urged to Amend Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan in Wake of Hurricane Helene

A coalition of conservation groups sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service this week, asking the agency to amend the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan due
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Capitol Building
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Applauds the Election of Rep. Huffman as Next Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources

Defenders of Wildlife president and CEO Andrew Bowman today issued the following statement in response to the Democratic Caucus’ unanimous vote to make Rep. Jared
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Surveying Gray Wolf
Denver, CO

Defenders Responds to News Copper Creek Pack will be Returned to the Wild

Following Colorado Parks and Wildlife's announcement that it intends to return the remaining members of the Copper Creek wolf pack into the wild, Defenders of Wildlife issued this response.
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2018.8.27 - Eastern Hellbender Profile on Rock Underwater - Isaac Szabo
Washington, DC

Proposed ESA Listing for Eastern Hellbender Comes Not a Moment Too Soon

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to list the eastern hellbender salamander as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, providing critical protections to
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2023.11.19 - Pinyon Jays in tree - Topaz Lake, Nevada -  by JC Bleam.jpg

Defenders Lawsuit Challenges Failure to Protect Pinyon Jay

Defenders of Wildlife today filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for violating the 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
jpetrequin@defenders.org
(202) 772-0243
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268