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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.
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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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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
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Defenders of Wildlife Opposes Bill Removing Key Protections from Millions of Acres of Public Forests
In advance of its markup by the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, Defenders of Wildlife urges lawmakers to oppose H.R. 8790, the misleadingly named “Fix our Forests Act.” The bill is sponsored by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA).
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Defenders Condemns Bill Riders Threatening Endangered Whales
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations’ Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee released its appropriations bill for the 2024-25 fiscal year. The
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Defenders Condemns Passage of Harmful Florida Bear Killing Bill
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made an unfortunate and deadly decision for Florida’s black bears by signing a bill into law that allows state residents to
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Colorado Confirms New Wolf Pack with Wolf Pup Sighting
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced this week that two reintroduced gray wolves have successfully reproduced in Grand County with a confirmed sighting of the first
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Bird sanctuary protected from planned toxic chemical use this year
As a result of a lawsuit filed by SELC on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to halt its plans to turn an iconic migratory bird sanctuary into a testing ground this summer for a chemical that is toxic to birds.
jcovey@defenders.org
