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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Improvement Act is a massive public lands giveaway

Today 10 a.m., the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining will hold a legislative hearing on 15

241 Conservation Groups Urge Lawmakers to Reject Anti-Wildlife Riders

More than 240 environmental, animal welfare and conservation organizations sent a letter to House and Senate leadership today, calling on them to reject riders in
Sacramento, CA

Reopening DRECP would stall renewable energy goals in California

Today the Federal Register published a notice of intent by the Bureau of Land Management to reopen the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) for

Federal Agencies Launch Process to Improve Evaluations for Pesticides and Endangered Species

Three federal agencies – the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service – signed a Memorandum of

Defenders of Wildlife Challenges Unlawful Road to Ruin

Defenders of Wildlife and eight partner environmental organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s agreement to trade away congressionally designated wilderness wetlands in Izembek
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