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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.
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Jake Li Testimony at EPW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

A Much-Needed Win for Wildlife: Senate Introduces Bill to Improve Endangered Species Act Implementation

Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Pete Rickets (R-NE) today introduced the Improving Species Recovery Act, an important bipartisan bill that would improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
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Porcupine caribou making its way through deep snow on the East Fork of the Chandalar River
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Enough is Enough: Senate Blocks Yet Another Attempt to Prioritize Drilling in the Arctic

The Senate today blocked an attempt to pass S. 5438, introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). The bill would have ratified and approved all authorizations, permits, verifications, extensions, biological opinions, incidental take statements and any other approvals or orders issued pursuant to federal law necessary for the establishment and administration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program, among other purposes.

Press Releases

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Mountain landscape, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
Washington, D.C.

Defenders President and CEO Commends Rep. Grijalva for his Service as Ranking Member of the Committee on Natural Resources

Defenders of Wildlife president and CEO Andrew Bowman today issued the following statement in response to Congressman’s Raúl M. Grijalva’s (D-Ariz.) decision to step down...
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2019 - Mexican Gray Wolf - Arizona - Evelyn Lichwa - Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team - FWS.jpeg
FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA

Defenders Statement on Investigation into the Death of a Mexican Gray Wolf

State and federal wildlife officials are offering a more than $100,000 reward in the death of a Mexican gray wolf found near a Forest Service
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2016.06.27 - Landscape of Selkirk Mountains - Idaho Panhandle National Forest - Idaho - Jon Knechtel
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Slams Trump Interior Pick Burgum

Trump made known that he intends to nominate North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to lead the Department of Interior, giving authority of the nation’s public lands, wildlife and natural resources to a leading advocate of oil and gas drilling.
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caribou grazing in field in front of mountains
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Defenders Opposes Proposed Illegal Land Exchange in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

Conservation groups are outraged today by a Department of the Interior’s proposal released today to trade away congressionally-designated wilderness lands within the Izembek National Wildlife
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Florida Panther walking through sand at night
Tallahassee, FL

Florida Passes Ill-Conceived Amendment 2, Wildlife Conflict Could Ensue

Florida's Amendment 2 makes hunting and fishing the preferred means of wildlife management, sidelining science and putting imperiled species at risk.
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