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brown bear
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Trump Administration Opens Door to Bear Baiting, Den Hunting in Alaska Preserves

The National Park Service finalized a regulation that abdicates the agency's responsibility to manage wildlife in Alaska's national preserves, deferring instead to state regulations. Defenders of Wildlife condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.
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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.

Press Releases

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Gray Wolf Howling in Snow - Montana
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Flabbergasted by Anti-Wildlife Politicians’ Baseless Claims in ESA 50th Committee Hearing

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries today held a hearing stacked with anti-wildlife politicians making baseless claims attacking the landmark Endangered Species Act, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
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Green sea turtle hatchling at Archie Carr NWR
Washington, DC

60 Percent of Threatened Species Lack Conservation Plans That Address Climate Change Risk According to New Defenders Research

A new Defenders of Wildlife study published today in Biological Conservation finds that 60 percent of US animal species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act lack conservation plans from the US Fish and Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Services that address the risks of climate change.
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NARW
Washington, DC

New Congressional Appropriations Language Delays Conservation Measures for Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale

This morning, the House Appropriations Committee is marking up its FY24 appropriations bill for the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. The bill contains language
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SG
Washington, DC

Congress Pulls Out Double Barrel Shotgun in Blatant Attack on Wildlife Protections

In a stunning abuse of power, the House Appropriations Committee Majority released its FY24 Interior Appropriations bill which is riddled with destructive riders that attack
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Greater sage-grouse
Washington, DC

BLM Must Strengthen Proposed Rule to Protect and Preserve Ecosystem Health and Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife today submitted its comments to the Bureau of Land Management on its proposed Conservation and Landscape Health proposed rule, which appropriately attempts
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