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Stefan Ekernas
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Welcomes Stefan Ekernas as New Vice President of Species Conservation & Coexistence

Defenders of Wildlife is proud to announce Stephan Ekernas as its new Vice President of Species Conservation and Coexistence, where he will oversee Defenders’ field conservation programs.
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brown bear
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Trump Administration Opens Door to Bear Baiting, Den Hunting in Alaska Preserves

The National Park Service finalized a regulation that abdicates the agency's responsibility to manage wildlife in Alaska's national preserves, deferring instead to state regulations. Defenders of Wildlife condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.
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Washington, DC

BLM Prepares Illegal Move to Open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge to Oil & Gas, a Dangerous Precedent for Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife is calling on BLM to withdrawal an unprecedented proposal to open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in Utah to new oil and gas leasing.

Press Releases

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Right Whale
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Targets Atlantic for Risky, Dangerous Drilling

Acting Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt announced that the Atlantic will be included in the 5-year offshore leasing plan for oil and gas development.
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Scientists' Call to Action: The U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Threatens Biodiversity and Binational Conservation
Washington, DC

House Bill Aims to Repeal Waiver Authority for Border Wall

The bill will amend broad authority granted to the Secretary of Homeland Security to unilaterally waive “all legal requirements” to construct barriers along the border.
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Bald eagle
Washington, DC

Nation’s Wildlife Faces Unprecedented Challenges, Extinction

Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife Jamie Rappaport Clark will testify on the state of wildlife in front of the House Natural Resources
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Right Whale
Washington, DC

House Introduces the SAVE Right Whales Act

The legislation would support the recovery of the critically imperiled North Atlantic right whale.
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A 72 pound female wolf of the Minam Pack, after being radio-collared on June 3, 2014
Washington, DC

Fish and Wildlife Service Moves to Delist Wolves

Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will soon propose a rule to delist the gray wolf in the Lower 48 states and return management to the states.
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