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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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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

WDFW Should Not Authorize Killing of Wolves in Unnamed NE Washington Pack

Defenders of Wildlife has asked the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to refrain from issuing a lethal removal order for wolves in the

Secretary Zinke Seeks to Outsource Federal Wildlife Responsibilities to the States

Jamie Rappaport Clark , Former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement: “Secretary Zinke’s memorandum calling for federal officials to review federal
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Green Sea Turtle
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Joins OneLessStraw Campaign

Defenders of Wildlife joins hundreds of nonprofit organizations and businesses to combat plastic pollution by becoming a partner in the OneLessStraw Campaign. This movement is a commitment to reducing the consumption of single-use plastic straws, one of the most common items polluting our oceans.

Proposed Transmission Line Avoids Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management announced a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Ten West Link energy transmission project. Statement by

Forest Ecology, Wildlife Experts to Farm Bill Conferees: Reject the House Farm Bill

Today 16 leading experts in forest ecology and management, including esteemed professors Norman Christensen of Duke University and Jerry Franklin of the University of Washington
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