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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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

Landmark Bird Protection Law Turns 100 Today

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The MBTA protects more than a thousand species of migratory
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Grizzly Bear feeds in the Russian River, Kenai Peninsula, Chugach National Forest, Alaska
Washington, DC

Proposed Rewrites to the Endangered Species Act Deny Science, Federal Oversight

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) wants to drastically rewrite the Endangered Species Act (ESA), our nation’s most effective law for protecting wildlife in danger of extinction. In newly proposed legislation, he would shift key authority for conserving threatened and endangered species to individual states, which lack the laws, resources and political will needed to protect imperiled wildlife and their habitat.

Senate Passes Farm Bill Free of House Environmental Poison Pills

The Senate passed the Agriculture Improvement Act (Farm Bill) today (y-n). In addition to addressing traditional agricultural and food policy, the Farm Bill has major
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close up of Red Wolf walking in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Rule Change Would Spell Disaster for Red Wolves

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced it will move forward with a scientifically indefensible plan to reduce the Red Wolf recovery area by

Defenders Files Suit to Save Disappearing Red Knot

WASHINGTON (June 21, 2018) – Defenders of Wildlife filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today to force the U.S
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