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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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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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Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera County
Washington, DC

Interactive Story Map Details Border Wall Impacts to Lower Rio Grande Valley

Defenders launched a new interactive story map which details how border wall construction would impact the people, places and wildlife of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
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Crater Lake OR

State of Utah Petitions Feds to Eliminate Roadless Protections, Paving the Way for More Development on Pristine National Forest Lands

The State of Utah formally petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture late yesterday to eliminate and reduce protections for pristine areas within Utah’s national forests
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Defenders of Wildlife Logo
Washington, DC

New Analysis Released on Illegal Wildlife Shipments from Latin America Seized in the U.S.

Defenders of Wildlife has released an updated analysis of illegal wildlife shipments from Latin America seized in the United States from 2007-2017. Ten years of
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Michael Dax
Santa Fe, NM

Defenders of Wildlife Announces Michael Dax as New Mexico Representative

Defenders of Wildlife is proud to announce Michael Dax as the New Mexico representative in the Southwest program office. He will be focusing on imperiled
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Grizzly bear

Wyoming Governor Signs Bill Authorizing Game and Fish Commission to Conduct Hunt of Threatened Grizzly Bears

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill (SF 93) last Friday authorizing the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission (the Commission) to conduct an illegal grizzly bear hunt in Wyoming.
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