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black-footed ferret at the nat'l black-footed ferret conservation center
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Slams SPEED Act as it Speeds Toward Habitat Destruction

Defenders of Wildlife condemns Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) SPEED ACT, H.R. 4776 the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act, ahead of Thursday’s expected floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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grizzly bear in Alaska
Washington, D.C.

ESA Amendments Act Poses a Historic Threat to America’s Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife remains on high alert as it braces for the House Natural Resources Committee’s full markup of Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) Endangered Species Amendments Act of 2025. More aptly labeled the Extinction Act, the bill seeks to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act, stripping away decades of crucial protections for America’s wildlife and their habitats.
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gray wolf walking with paw raised and looking at camera
Washington, D.C.

House Vote Scheduled on Ending Gray Wolf Protections, Undermining the Endangered Species Act

The House of Representatives is expected this Thursday to vote on ending gray wolf protections, prematurely delisting gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act before

Press Releases

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Gray wolf pups with flowers
Baker County, Oregon

Oregon State Wildlife Officials Kill Two Wolf Pups from a Helicopter

Oregon state wildlife officials responded to a rancher’s request for help after a wolf depredation that resulted in killing two young pups in Baker County
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Capitol Building
Washington, DC

House Passes Funding Package with Pro-Wildlife Provisions

After successfully advocating against budget amendments that would have limited the application of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Defenders of Wildlife and our partners, ensured
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Orca J-16 rainblow
SEATTLE, Wash.

NOAA Expands Endangered Southern Resident Orca Critical Habitat by more than 600 Percent

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has finalized a rule that expands southern resident orca critical habitat by approximately 16,000 square miles or 640%
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Manatee resting at Three Sisters Springs

Tampa Bay’s Catastrophic Red Tide Could Preview Florida’s Future

A large outbreak of highly toxic algae or “red tide” continues to impact Gulf Coast communities in Southwest Florida, resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 tons of marine life and fish, including manatees, goliath groupers, dolphins and endangered sea turtles along St. Petersburg and Pinellas County beaches.
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Eastern Bluebird
Washington, DC

Congress Calls for Lasting Protections for Migratory Birds

Today, Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) joined with Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and 47 original co-sponsors to introduce the Migratory Bird Protection Act to reaffirm long-standing protections for migratory birds against industrial take — that is, unintentional but predictable killing of birds.
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
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268