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Florida panther
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Submits Technical Comments and Over 8,400 Public Comments in Efforts to Stop Harmful ESA Proposals

Defenders of Wildlife today submitted its technical comments opposing the Trump administration’s proposals to weaken the Endangered Species Act’s implementing regulations.
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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.

Press Releases

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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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2022.04.18 - Landscape - Beaver Coexistence New Mexico - Bryan Bird

Defenders Receives NFWF’s Southwest Rivers Headwaters Grant to Support Habitat Restoration, Beaver Coexistence Along Rio Grande

Defenders of Wildlife is proud to announce it has been awarded a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to support our on-the-ground efforts
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2010.11.08-Delta Smelt closeup- Peter Johnsen-USFWS (CC BY 2.0).jpg
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

State and Federal Agencies Cancel Action to Protect Delta Smelt

In California, today marks the start of the new “water year,” the date water managers use to mark the end of the dry season and
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SPECIAL AREA
WASHINGTON, DC

Indigenous Leaders, Environmental Organizations Support Biden Administration Announcement Soliciting Feedback on Expanding and Strengthening Protections for Special Areas in the Western Arctic

Today, the Biden administration announced that the Department of the Interior will seek input on whether to initiate a process to expand existing Special Areas
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A polar bear keeps close to her young along the Beaufort Sea coast in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Lawmakers for Voting Against NDAA Amendment Exempting Defense from ESA

Defenders of Wildlife applauds the majority of House members that voted down a disastrous amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have fully exempted defense-related activity from the Endangered Species Act.
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