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Violet-green Swallow
ANN ARBOR, MI

Study Led by Defenders of Wildlife Scientist Shows Noise Pollution Impacts on Migratory Birds

“The major takeaway from this study is that anthropogenic noise affects many aspects of bird behavior, with some responses more directly tied to fitness,” said Natalie Madden, lead author of the new study.
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Louisiana Black Bear
Raleigh, N.C.

Defenders Receives Advocacy Organization of the Year Award

Defenders of Wildlife joined its partners in the Safe Passage coalition today to accept the Advocacy Organization of the Year Award at the 2026 Sweethearts
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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

Press Releases

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Red Wolf Pups
Manteo, NC

First Wild Red Wolf Pups Born Since 2018

This week, Red Wolf Recovery Program staff confirmed a litter of six wild Red Wolf puppies, the first born in the wild since 2018. The pups, which include four females and two males, were found in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina.
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Gray Wolf Howling
Portland, ORE.

Defenders of Wildlife Calls for Increased Poaching Protections as Oregon’s Wolf Population Stalls

For the second time since wolves returned to Oregon in 2009, the population has not grown, according to the recently released 2021 annual report from
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A brown bear cub looks for fish in the Kenai River
Anchorage, AK

Court Upholds Prohibition of Brown Bear Baiting in Alaska's Kenai Refuge

Defenders of Wildlife and a coalition of groups represented by Trustees for Alaska celebrated a U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision on Monday to uphold a 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule that prohibits brown bear baiting on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
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Newborn Gray Wolf Pups
SEATTLE, Wash.

Washington Wolf Population Growing Despite Many Deaths

Despite a number of deaths, primarily from vehicle collisions and legal tribal harvest, the Washington wolf population has increased, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
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Mexican Gray Wolf stare
Santa Fe, NM

Revised Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan Addresses Poaching

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a draft revision to its 2017 Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Plan. The plan is the result of a legal victory by Defenders of Wildlife and partners and outlines the ways the agency will address poaching and other human-caused deaths.
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