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manta rays swimming in the shallow ocean with coral
Fort Myers, FL

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Tightening Protections for Listed Species

Defenders of Wildlife welcomes today’s action by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to end open permitting for the capture of ESA-threatened marine species in Florida waters for public display and exhibition purposes.
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NARW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Legal Intervention Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Ship Strikes

Conservation groups today filed a motion to intervene to help fight a lawsuit aimed at overturning a seasonal speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The groups want to defend the rule against a lawsuit brought by a New York vessel owner fined for violating seasonal speed limits. The suit alleges that NOAA Fisheries lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule.
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sage grouse in snow at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, D.C.

Final Rescission of Public Lands Rule Reverses Modern Land Management, Threatens Wildlife Habitat

The Bureau of Land Management today announced a decision to roll back the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, commonly referred to as the Public Lands Rule. The policy modernized how BLM manages our national public lands and represented the critical incorporation of ecological resilience into management alongside traditional resource extraction.

Press Releases

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Gray whale mom and calf California
Washington, DC

Defenders' statement on Gulf oil spill disaster

Oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout has made landfall on the Gulf coast; it is expected to hit the Delta and Breton National Wildlife Refuges before reaching the mainland. The Department of Homeland Security has declared the Deepwater Horizon Gulf spill of "national significance" and multiple agencies are mobilizing to control the spread of oil.
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Single Joshua Tree at end of rainbow
Sacramento, CA

Feds say the Mohave ground squirrel may face extinction

The Mohave ground squirrel's survival is most threatened by loss of habitat due to urban and suburban sprawl, rural development, agriculture, military activities, livestock grazing and off-highway vehicle use.
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Peregrine falcon
Washington, DC

FWS unveils new vision for wind-energy siting and wildlife

“Wind energy is an important part of our clean energy future, but for it to be truly successful, we need thoughtful long-term planning that takes wildlife and habitat conservation into consideration. These draft guidelines will go a long way toward ensuring that future wind energy development is compatible with birds, bats and other wildlife."
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Arctic fox
Anchorage, AK

Win for Scientifically Sound Wildlife Management as Alaska Legislature Rejects Al Barrette for Board of Game

The following statement was released in response to the Alaska State Legislature's rejection of Board of Game nominee, Al Barrette
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Archie Carr NWR at sunrise
Washington, DC

Offshore Drilling Plan Threatens Coastal Communities, Ocean Wildlife

The Obama Administration’s broad offshore drilling plan, released today, threatens coastal waters along the mid- and south-Atlantic coastline from Delaware to Florida.
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