Newsroom

WASHINGTON, D.C.

October 23, 2026

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.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

October 19, 2026

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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.

Washington, DC

October 5, 2026

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

January 12, 2016

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bans import of salamander species in the face of deadly disease

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: January 12, 2016 Contacts: Haley McKey, 202-772-0247, hmckey@defenders.org Melanie Gade, 202-772-0288, mgade@defenders.org U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bans import of salamander

Victor, ID

January 11, 2016

Northern Rockies Fishers One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection

In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Northern Rockies fisher, a rare and vanishing species, may warrant federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.

January 7, 2016