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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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Akepa, endangered, found in Hakalau Forest NWR

Congress Urged to Increase Spending to $700 Million for Endangered Species Conservation

Citing the global extinction crisis, more than 150 groups urged Congress today to significantly increase the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s budget for endangered species conservation from $300 million to $704 million — an increase of more than $400 million over the fiscal year 2022 budget.
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Wildlife Crossing Bridge Over Two Lane Trans-Canada Highway in Banff National Park
Portland, ORE.

Oregon Legislature Designates $7 Million for Wildlife Crossings

In a first for the state of Oregon, state policymakers approved $7 million dollars in funding for building and maintaining wildlife crossings in the state.
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Caribou on tundra in NPR-A
Washington, D.C.

200,000 Say No to ConocoPhillips' Massive Willow Project

Today, more than 200,000 comments from throughout Alaska and across the country were submitted to the U.S. Interior Department and Bureau of Land Management opposing
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Greater sage grouse, Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming
Washington, DC

Congress Defies Science, Includes Sage-Grouse Rider in Appropriations, Again

Top negotiators in Congress announced that the greater sage-grouse rider will be included in this year’s final FY2022 appropriations bill.
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Kyiv subway station serves as a shelter for thousands of people.

In Solidarity with Ukraine

Like so many others around the world, we at Defenders of Wildlife are deeply saddened by the acts of war unfolding in Ukraine and our hearts go out to everyone affected by these horrific attacks. Our mission is wildlife, but there are many organizations whose mission is to help the people impacted by war and violence. Today we lend our voice to them.
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