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A close up of the face of a Sierra Nevada Red Fox at the edge of a forest in Deschutes County, Oregon.
Washington, D.C.

Court Rules Habitat Must Be Protected After FWS Attempts to Waive Protections for Less Than 40 Sierra Nevada Red Fox

Defenders of Wildlife earned a significant victory for the Endangered Species Act today when a federal district court found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to not designate critical habitat for the endangered Sierra Nevada red fox was a violation of the law.
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Three sea otters float in the water. There are hills or mountains in the distance in the background.

Construction on Gateway to Road through Izembek Continues

The Ninth Circuit today denied Defenders of Wildlife’s emergency motion to halt construction on King Cove Corp.’s 2.8-mile road segment leading to the doorstep of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness. Defenders’ request for immediate injunctive relief marks the latest stage in its larger effort to block a damaging and precedent-setting road from King Cove to Cold Bay, Alaska, that would plow through the heart of Izembek.
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sea otter eye contact, CA

Rooted in Resilience: Sea Otter Awareness Week Returns for its 24th Year

Sea Otter Awareness Week is sponsored and organized by Defenders of Wildlife, Sea Otter Savvy, California State Parks, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Elakha Alliance and The Marine Mammal Center. Learn more about sea otters during Sea Otter Awareness Week at upcoming in-person and virtual events in California and Oregon.

Press Releases

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Black-Footed Ferret Poking its Head Out
Washington, D.C.

Legal Protections for Wildlife in Jeopardy as House Holds Oversight Meeting

Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, will tomorrow hold her first hearing of
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Bison group on the move at sunrise in Lamar Valley
Billings, Mont.

Tribes, Conservation Groups Move to Defend Yellowstone Bison Plan in Court

The Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, alongside conservation groups, today filed a motion to join a lawsuit to defend Yellowstone National Park’s science-based bison
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

Re-Establishing Clean Water Act Standards Needed To Protect Vulnerable Ecosystems and Access to Clean Water

Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) introduced the Right to Clean Water Act, SB 601, to safeguard California’s water systems by enshrining into state law previous
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Rice's Whale
Washington, DC

Defenders Statement on BOEM Rescission of Rice's Whale Recommendations

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has rescinded its Notice to Lessees and Operators, "Expanded Rice's Whale Protection Efforts During Reinitiated Consultation with NMFS," which
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Polar bears on ice
Anchorage, AK

Groups File First Environmental Lawsuit Vs. Trump Offshore Drilling Order

Today, groups concerned about the threats from offshore drilling filed the first environmental legal challenge against the new Trump administration. One group is challenging an
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
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mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
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jcovey@defenders.org
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268
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estern@defenders.org
202-772-0243