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Washington, DC

BLM Prepares Illegal Move to Open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge to Oil & Gas, a Dangerous Precedent for Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife is calling on BLM to withdrawal an unprecedented proposal to open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in Utah to new oil and gas leasing.
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Jake Li Testimony at EPW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

A Much-Needed Win for Wildlife: Senate Introduces Bill to Improve Endangered Species Act Implementation

Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Pete Rickets (R-NE) today introduced the Improving Species Recovery Act, an important bipartisan bill that would improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
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Porcupine caribou making its way through deep snow on the East Fork of the Chandalar River
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Enough is Enough: Senate Blocks Yet Another Attempt to Prioritize Drilling in the Arctic

The Senate today blocked an attempt to pass S. 5438, introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). The bill would have ratified and approved all authorizations, permits, verifications, extensions, biological opinions, incidental take statements and any other approvals or orders issued pursuant to federal law necessary for the establishment and administration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program, among other purposes.

Press Releases

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Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs
Charleston, South Carolina

Horseshoe Crab Harvest Stopped in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today issued its final compatibility determination halting the commercial harvest of horseshoe crabs in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
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Mike Senatore headshot
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Announces Mike Senatore as New Senior Vice President of Conservation

Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to welcome Mike Senatore back to the organization as Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs. In this role, Mike will oversee Defender’s conservation science, legal and policy strategies.
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Female lesser prairie-chicken
Washington, DC

Defenders Horrified by House Vote to Push Northern Long-Eared Bat and Lesser Prairie-Chicken Closer to Extinction

In a tragic pair of votes today, the U.S House of Representatives pushed the Lesser prairie-chicken and the Northern long-eared bat closer to extinction by denying them urgently needed Endangered Species Act protections.
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A Mountain Landscape, featuring Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina
Asheville, N.C.

Conservation Groups Prepare for Lawsuit over Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan

A coalition of conservation groups sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service signaling their intent to sue unless officials fix the glaring flaws in
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20230725 - Ocelot on trail camera - profile left - Jason Miller-https---www.youtube.com-@JasonMillerOutdoors
Sierra Vista, Arizona

New Footage of Ocelot Reminder of Need for Habitat Protection in Arizona

A wildlife trail camera recently captured footage of an ocelot roaming the Huachuca mountains of southeastern Arizona. The July 2023 video by wildlife hobbyist Jason Miller is exciting for conservations that hope to expand protections in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.
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