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Violet-green Swallow
ANN ARBOR, MI

Study Led by Defenders of Wildlife Scientist Shows Noise Pollution Impacts on Migratory Birds

“The major takeaway from this study is that anthropogenic noise affects many aspects of bird behavior, with some responses more directly tied to fitness,” said Natalie Madden, lead author of the new study.
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Louisiana Black Bear
Raleigh, N.C.

Defenders Receives Advocacy Organization of the Year Award

Defenders of Wildlife joined its partners in the Safe Passage coalition today to accept the Advocacy Organization of the Year Award at the 2026 Sweethearts
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Two North Atlantic Right Whales
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Raises Alarm Over Administration’s Proposal to Amend Rule Protecting North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Vessel Strikes

Defenders of Wildlife is devastated to learn that a three-year-old female North Atlantic right whale was found dead off Virginia on February 10, 2026. This

Press Releases

Trump Strikes Disastrous Land Deal for Road through Izembek Refuge

The Department of the Interior signed an agreement to trade away internationally recognized, congressionally designated wilderness wetlands in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to allow construction
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Right Whale
Washington, DC

Lawsuit Filed to Save North Atlantic Right Whales from Death in Fishing Gear

Conservation and animal - protection groups today sued the National Marine Fisheries Service for failing to prevent critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from becoming

Tribes, Conservation Groups Support Investigation of Yellowstone Bison Sabotage

The Fort Peck Tribes and representatives from Defenders of Wildlife, World Wildlife Fund and the National Wildlife Federation welcome Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke’s decision

Trump’s Offshore Drilling Plan: A Death Sentence for Southern Resident Orcas

The Trump administration’s recent proposal to expand offshore oil and gas drilling could hasten the extinction of the Pacific Northwest’s last 76 Southern Resident killer

Most Americans Would Oppose Infrastructure Plan That Sacrifices the Environment, Poll Shows

Americans overwhelmingly reject the idea that improving the nation’s infrastructure should come at the expense of protections for air, water, wildlife and natural places, a
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Former Communications Specialist
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268