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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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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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Scientists' Call to Action: The U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Threatens Biodiversity and Binational Conservation
Washington, DC

ADVISORY: Rally against the Trump Administration’s Border Policies

President Trump’s call for construction of new walls along the U.S.-Mexico border threatens the rich biological diversity of our southern border.
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Nicole Whittington-Evans
Anchorage, AK

Defenders of Wildlife Announces Nicole Whittington-Evans as Alaska Program Director

Nicole Whittington-Evans joined Defenders of Wildlife as the Alaska program director. Most recently, she was the Alaska director for The Wilderness Society for over eight years, boasting over twenty years of wildlife conservation experience.
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Scientists' Call to Action: The U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Threatens Biodiversity and Binational Conservation
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Reacts to Trump's Planned Border Visit

"The wall is a terrible idea that tears at the fabric of our American values and endangers our natural heritage, and the victims of the President’s obsession will be all around him at the border.”
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A 100 lb adult male wolf was GPS radio-collared in the Mt Emily unit
Portland, OR

Conservation Groups Exit Oregon Wolf Meetings Citing Potential Increased Killings, Flawed Process

Four conservation groups have notified Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and the state wildlife commission that they are withdrawing from stakeholder meetings about the management of
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Border wall comparison Matt Clark/Defenders
Washington, DC

House Rejects President’s Demands to Fund Needless, Damaging Border Wall

The House of Representatives passed a bill today that would end a government shutdown over President Trump’s demand that Americans pay for his ill-conceived wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
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