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black-footed ferret at the nat'l black-footed ferret conservation center
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Slams SPEED Act as it Speeds Toward Habitat Destruction

Defenders of Wildlife condemns Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) SPEED ACT, H.R. 4776 the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act, ahead of Thursday’s expected floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Roaming mountain goat
Washington, D.C.

ESA Amendments Act Poses a Historic Threat to America’s Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife remains on high alert as it braces for the House Natural Resources Committee’s full markup of Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) Endangered Species Amendments Act of 2025. More aptly labeled the Extinction Act, the bill seeks to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act, stripping away decades of crucial protections for America’s wildlife and their habitats.
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gray wolf walking with paw raised and looking at camera
Washington, D.C.

House Vote Scheduled on Ending Gray Wolf Protections, Undermining the Endangered Species Act

The House of Representatives is expected this Thursday to vote on ending gray wolf protections, prematurely delisting gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act before

Press Releases

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Horseshoe crabs on beach
Charleston, S.C.

Defenders Joins Forces with Conservation Groups in Suit to Dismiss State Challenge in Cape Romain

The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a motion to intervene and a motion to dismiss on behalf of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League
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Grizzly bear sow Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone National Park
Missoula, MT

Defenders Applauds Missoula for Strengthening Bear Smart Community Initiative to Further Minimize Human-Bear Conflict

The Missoula City Council last night finalized the decision to expand its bear buffer zone, including new regulations around garbage storage and a bear mitigation
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Spring migration of red knots, Delaware Bay
Beaufort, N.C.

Fisheries Commission Rejects Female Horseshoe Crab Harvest Proposal for Delaware Bay

Conservation groups commended today’s decision by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to forego a 2024 bait harvest of female horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay
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2019.07.02-Landscape of Black Spruce Pines-Danielle Brigida-USFWS
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Responds to 21 Species Being Declared Extinct

The Fish and Wildlife Service, today declared it is removing 21 species from the Endangered Species Act due to extinction. FWS first proposed the delisting
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By William Krumpelman
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Raises a Rallying Howl for Wolf Awareness Week

Defenders of Wildlife founded national Wolf Awareness Week in 1996 to drive meaningful conversations about wolves’ ecological importance and why they deserve to be protected
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
jpetrequin@defenders.org
(202) 772-0243
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268