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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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

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Gray Wolf Stare
Olympia, WA

Washington State Releases 2024 Wolf Population Estimates

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife today released the 2024 population estimates for gray wolves, reporting a 9% decrease in the minimum count of
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logging crop
Washington, D.C.

Trump Administration Places Thumb on Scale of Timber Industry Profit – Routs Environmental and Conservation Laws in the Process

The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, has issued a secretarial memo that throws out environmental policies and safeguards in favor of timber industry profits.
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2015.02.11 - Mexican Gray Wolf Stare - Rebecca Bose - Wolf Conservation Center.JPG
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

Defenders, Conservationists Celebrate Female Mexican Gray Wolf Movement

Female Mexican gray wolf 2996 has peacefully wandered north of Interstate 40 in New Mexico toward Mount Taylor, an area of pristine habitat teeming with
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Nantahala National Forest
Washington, DC

Conservation Groups sue U.S. Forest Service over controversial Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan

On Thursday, a coalition of conservation groups sued the U.S. Forest Service over its Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan, arguing the agency violated federal law by downplaying
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gray wolf pups
Helena, MT

Montana Wolf Management Plan Calls for Significant Reduction in Wolf Population

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks yesterday released its final gray wolf conservation and management plan, which calls for an up to 60% reduction in 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
Communications Specialist
estern@defenders.org
202-772-0243