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Northern Spotted Owl in Tree
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Expands Legal Challenge to Trump Administration’s Assault on Endangered Species Act

Defenders of Wildlife today filed an amended complaint challenging the Trump administration’s escalating effort to dismantle longstanding protections for threatened and endangered wildlife under the Endangered Species Act.
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Salt Marsh - Cumberland Island
ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

NPS Land Swaps and Visitor Plan Open the Door to Devastating Impacts at Cumberland Island

In advance of a public hearing on proposed land exchanges on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Defenders of Wildlife called on the National Park Service to remedy a host of management issues facing one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands on the East Coast.
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2019.08.07 - Florida Panther looking straight at camera - MS 45 - fStop Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Memo Underscores Trump Administration’s All-Fronts War on Wildlife

Brian Nesvik, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, issued a memorandum explaining to FWS staff that the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on unauthorized “take” applies only to affirmative acts intentionally and purposefully directed at a particular animal. This follows the Trump administration’s rescission of the regulatory definitions of “harm” under the ESA, which took effect this week.

Press Releases

Hundreds of Groups Call on Congress to Protect Endangered Species from Pesticides

A broad coalition of more than 258 conservation, consumer, agricultural and other public interest groups sent a letter to Congress opposing all efforts to weaken

ADVISORY: Rally to Save Santa Ana

The Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge is celebrating its 75 th anniversary this year, all while facing the threat of border wall construction. The Trump administration’s

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
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