Image
CA Mountains
SACRAMENTO, CA

California Legislature Sends Landmark Wildlife Coexistence Bill to Governor

The California state legislature today passed with bipartisan support a landmark bill to re-establish the statewide Wildlife Coexistence Program within the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which will better manage and reduce human-wildlife conflict through non-lethal and proactive strategies.
Image
Tongass Nat'l Forest
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Joins Recreation, Conservation Groups to Unite Against Forest Service Travel Rule Rollback

The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a process to significantly revise its Travel Management Rule, which guides where motorized vehicles are and are not allowed on almost 200 million acres of national forests and grasslands
Image
landscape photo showing dense forest environment in the foreground and a snow mountain peak into the distance
Washington, DC

BLM Proposal Puts Wildlife and Public Lands at Risk, Sends Taxpayers the Bill

Defenders of Wildlife and coalition partners oppose BLM's proposed Oil & Gas Rule that will harm wildlife, weaken bonding requirements and limit public input.

Press Releases

Image
A dead right whale floating about 20 miles offshore of Tybee Island, Georgia on February 14, 2024. Two sharks swim close by.

Critically Endangered Whale Dies Due to Inaction of Biden Administration

The North Atlantic right whale reported dead on Feb. 13 off the coast of Georgia was likely hit and killed by a vessel strike, NOAA
Image
 Adult Male Florida Panther in Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, DC

Federal Court Strikes Down EPA Approval of Florida Wetlands Program 

A federal court ruled in favor of environmental groups today, determining that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) violated
Image
A dead North Atlantic right whale is seen stranded at Joseph Sylvia State Beach in Edgartown, Mass. Found on Sunday, the whale is a juvenile female, a devestating loss to the population.
Washington, DC

Fishing Gear That Killed Endangered Right Whale Traced Back to Maine Fishery

NOAA Fisheries today announced that the fishing gear entangling the body of a juvenile female North Atlantic right whale that washed ashore on Martha’s Vineyard
Image
Piping Plover sitting on beach with chick
Washington, DC

Defenders Staunchly Opposes “ESA Flexibility Act” Which Would Gut Imperiled Species Conservation Efforts

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries today will hold a hearing on the ESA Flexibility Act, a bill that if passed would catastrophically undermine key foundational elements of the Endangered Species Act.
Image
2023.01.05- Right Whale Swimming with Calf-FWC-CC BY NC ND 2.0
Washington, DC

Defenders and Allies Call on Biden Administration for Overdue Right Whale Protections

Conservation groups have asked a federal court on Feb. 13 to lift a stay and allow paused litigation to proceed, in pursuit of a deadline
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