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Two North Atlantic Right Whales
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Raises Alarm Over Administration’s Proposal to Amend Rule Protecting North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Vessel Strikes

Defenders of Wildlife is devastated to learn that a three-year-old female North Atlantic right whale was found dead off Virginia on February 10, 2026. This
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Bison in field
Billings, Mont.

Defenders Stands Against Rejection of Bison Grazing Lands

Defenders of Wildlife is joining conservation group American Prairie in protesting a proposal by the Bureau of Land Management to revoke a decision allowing bison
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Mother and baby sperm whale swimming just below the surface.
Washington, DC

Defenders Hails Bill Promising Tools to Protect Whales

On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the Whale CHARTS (Conservation Habitat Analysis, Research, and Technical Strategies) Act that proposes new tools to

Press Releases

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ocelot
LOS FRESNOS, Texas

Rare Ocelot Sighting Ahead of Festival Exemplifies Need for Awareness on Texas Roads

A couple visiting Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (LANWR) shared their extraordinary sighting of a mother and kitten ocelot just two weeks ahead of Ocelot Conservation Day, March 5, at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville.
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Gray Wolf in Snowy Landscape
Denver, CO

Defenders of Wildlife Recommends Three Ways to Strengthen Proposed CO Wolf Restoration and Management Plan

At the final public hearing on the proposed Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan, Defenders of Wildlife offered three key areas where the state’s management plan can be strengthened to ensure a self-sufficient wolf population and promote coexistence.
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CA Spotted Owl
SAN FRANCISCO

California Spotted Owl Gets Endangered Species Act Protections After 23 Years

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will protect the California spotted owl under the Endangered Species Act.
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Polar bear cubs chasing a leaf

Defenders Objects in Court to Plans to Continue Allowing Oil and Gas Companies to Harm Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bears

Defenders of Wildlife, as one of the organizations represented by law firm Trustees for Alaska, filed an objection in U.S. District Court today over a magistrate’s findings and recommendation that would let stand a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule allowing oil and gas companies to harass Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears. The magistrate submitted findings this month on our lawsuit challenging the incidental take regulations for oil and gas activities on Alaska’s North Slope.
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Nantahala-Pisgah
Asheville, NC

U.S. Forest Service Fails to Fix Glaring Flaws in Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan

Today, the U.S. Forest Service officially published the Final Forest Plan for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, moving forward with a plan that recklessly opens critical areas of these two forests to logging and roadbuilding.
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Former Communications Specialist
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268