Image
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Memo Underscores Trump Administration’s All-Fronts War on Wildlife
Brian Nesvik, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, issued a memorandum explaining to FWS staff that the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on unauthorized “take” applies only to affirmative acts intentionally and purposefully directed at a particular animal. This follows the Trump administration’s rescission of the regulatory definitions of “harm” under the ESA, which took effect this week.
Image
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.
Image
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.
Press Releases
Image
Sage grouse is in danger of extinction, feds say
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concludes that the sage grouse could face extinction if it doesn't receive protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Image
Conservation groups seek stronger protections for Cape Hatteras
Conservation groups are studying proposed rules released today by the National Park Service to govern off-road vehicle use at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Image
More than 145,000 speak out against corporate sponsored wolf killing contests
More than 145,000 sign petition telling Cabela's and Sportsman's Warehouse to end their sponsorship of unsportsmanlike "predator derbies".
Image
California Sea Otter Fund’s survival in jeopardy
California taxpayers have coughed up a lot of clams for their struggling sea otters over the past four years. Still, the California Sea Otter Fund, a tax check-off program, narrowly missed raising enough money to make the tax form this year.
Image
Defenders mourns the loss of FWS Director Sam Hamilton
The following is a statement by Jamie Rappaport Clark, executive vice president of Defenders of Wildlife. “Sam Hamilton had made great strides in unifying and
jcovey@defenders.org
