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Two Southern Appalachian Brook Trout underwater and surface
Washington, D.C.

House Set to Vote on Misleading Bill Blocking Regulation of Lead Ammunition on Federal Lands

The United States House of Representatives is expected this Wednesday to vote on H.R. 556 – Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025.
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2023.11.19 - Pinyon Jay in tree - Topaz Lake, Nevada -  by JC Bleam.jpg
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

First-of-its-Kind Study Sheds Light on Forest Thinning Impacts on Pinyon Jays

Though the pinyon jay population continues to decline at alarming rates, until now the threats facing it remained largely under-researched. Defenders of Wildlife, along with
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green sea turtle
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Trump Administration Calls on “God Squad” to Weaken Endangered Species Act Protections

The Trump administration today announced its intent to convene the Endangered Species Committee — colloquially known as the “God Squad”— on March 31, 2026, to consider an exemption under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for oil and gas-related activities in the Gulf of Mexico.

Press Releases

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Surveying Gray Wolf
Denver, CO

Defenders Responds to News Copper Creek Pack will be Returned to the Wild

Following Colorado Parks and Wildlife's announcement that it intends to return the remaining members of the Copper Creek wolf pack into the wild, Defenders of Wildlife issued this response.
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2018.8.27 - Eastern Hellbender Profile on Rock Underwater - Isaac Szabo
Washington, DC

Proposed ESA Listing for Eastern Hellbender Comes Not a Moment Too Soon

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to list the eastern hellbender salamander as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, providing critical protections to
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2023.11.19 - Pinyon Jays in tree - Topaz Lake, Nevada -  by JC Bleam.jpg

Defenders Lawsuit Challenges Failure to Protect Pinyon Jay

Defenders of Wildlife today filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for violating the Endangered Species
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Monarch Butterfly
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Applauds Overdue Listing for Monarch Butterfly

“The protections that come with Endangered Species Act listing increase the chance that these precious pollinators will rebound and recover throughout their historic range," said Defenders' Andrew Carter.
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2006.09.02 - Cotton Grass - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - Steve Hillebrand, USFWS.jpg

Defenders Appalled by Oil and Gas Lease Sales Set to Open in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Defenders of Wildlife released the following statement today on the Department of the Interior’s final Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which follows the
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