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prairie dog
Denver, CO

Prairie Dog Coalition Urges Colorado to End Recreational Prairie Dog Shooting on Public Lands

Defenders and partners at the Prairie Dog Coalition call on Colorado Parks and Wildlife to prohibit recreational shooting of prairie dogs on public lands.
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Stefan Ekernas
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Welcomes Stefan Ekernas as New Vice President of Species Conservation & Coexistence

Defenders of Wildlife is proud to announce Stephan Ekernas as its new Vice President of Species Conservation and Coexistence, where he will oversee Defenders’ field conservation programs.
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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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.

Press Releases

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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.
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Martha Williams
Washington, D.C.

Martha Williams Confirmed as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director

Martha Williams was confirmed as director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Jamie Rappaport Clark, former president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife and former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1997-2001), issued a statement.
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North atlantic right whale and calf
Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Proposed Bill to Assist Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale

Today, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Right Whale Coexistence Act of 2022, which seeks to reduce human impacts on critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) will introduce a companion bill in the House this Friday.
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