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Fish and Wildlife Service Misguided in Rescinding Vital Strategic Growth Policy for the National Wildlife Refuge System
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service quietly rescinded its Refuge System Strategic Growth Policy in December, bypassing the legally required public comment period for such a change, despite having issued the policy with an accompanying public comment period in 2014.
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Defenders Celebrates Tremendous Step to Restored Florida Rivers
On Monday, the Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs, and Community Investment Act was filed to restore the natural flow of the Ocklawaha River, Silver and St
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Hundreds of Thousands of Americans Oppose Trump Administration Effort to Roll Back Protections for Imperiled Animals and Plant Species
Nearly 400,000 Americans submitted comments in opposition to a set of proposed rules from the Trump administration that would roll back protections for imperiled animal and plant species.
Press Releases
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New Population Estimate Illustrates the North Atlantic Right Whales’ Downward Trend
Today, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium announced that the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale’s population – now at 340, down from 348 – continues its decade-long decline. The species’ population has plummeted by 30% in the last decade, down from 481 in 2011. The latest estimate represents the whale’s lowest population estimate in 20 years.
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Eastern Population of Gopher Tortoise Denied Federal Protection
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that eastern and western portions of the gopher tortoise range meet the Distinct Population Segments criteria. The agency also determined in the species status assessment that the eastern population does not meet the requirements for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.
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Defenders of Wildlife Launches New Spanish Microsite
Defenders of Wildlife today launched a new Spanish website, which will offer translated content for Spanish-speaking audiences. Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the U.S. but second-language access to conservation work continues to be limited or unavailable.
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Six Dead Wolves Found Poisoned in Eastern Washington
Defenders of Wildlife condemns the horrific poisoning of six wolves in Stevens County, Washington, and is offering a reward of $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. A total of $51,000 is being offered as a reward by a coalition of environmental groups.
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Defenders of Wildlife Disappointed by Revised Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a final revised recovery plan for the Mexican gray wolf. The Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan, Second Revision (final revised recovery plan), provides new site-specific recovery actions to improve protections for Mexican wolves in the wild. Defenders of Wildlife is disappointed that the revised plan likely won't be enough to curb the number of human-caused deaths.
jcovey@defenders.org
