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Southern Sea Otter on its Back with Tag on its Foot
Olympia, WA

Defenders Offers Reward for Information on Sea Otter Poaching

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has confirmed that a federally protected sea otter was illegally tortured and killed in February 2025. Both FWS and
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gray wolf
Washington, D.C.

Assault on Endangered Species Protections Continues with New Bill to Delist Gray Wolves

Defenders of Wildlife is sounding the alarm over the latest congressional attack on gray wolves following the introduction of the Pacific Northwest Gray Wolves Relief
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Solar energy development in the Ivanpah Valley, California
Washington, D.C.

Amendment to Exempt Defense Activity from the ESA Soundly Defeated

Defenders of Wildlife applauds the members of the House of Representatives who voted down a repeat amendment to H.R. 3838, the National Defense Authorization Act

Press Releases

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North atlantic right whale
Washington, DC

Court: Federal Failure to Protect Right Whales from Deadly Entanglements Violates Law

A federal court ruled in favor of the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, and Defenders of Wildlife in a long-running case challenging NOAA Fisheries’ failure to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from deadly entanglements in American lobster fishing gear.
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Red knots and horseshoe crabs
Cape May, NJ

Delaware Bay Red Knot Shorebird Numbers Remain Historically Low Despite Modest Increase

The Delaware Bay Shorebird Project, which has assessed shorebird numbers in the region for 26 years, found that the threatened red knot shorebird’s numbers remained at historically low levels in 2022.
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Bald eagle on a log
Washington, DC

Federal Court Restores Critical Endangered Species Act Protections

Today, in a win for wildlife protection and conservation, a federal district court restored comprehensive Endangered Species Act regulatory protections to hundreds of species.
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Carbon emissions from chimneys
Washington, DC

Supreme Court Guts Clean Air Act

In the case of West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 today to significantly narrow the scope of the Clean Air Act, causing a major setback for President Biden’s plan to rein in greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel-burning powerplants.
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Shortfin mako shark
Washington, DC

Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Failure to Protect Shortfin Mako Shark as Endangered or Threatened Species

Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity sent a notice today of their intent to sue NOAA Fisheries for its failure to protect the shortfin mako shark under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
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
jpetrequin@defenders.org
(202) 772-0243