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Salt Marsh - Cumberland Island
ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

NPS Land Swaps and Visitor Plan Open the Door to Devastating Impacts at Cumberland Island

In advance of a public hearing on proposed land exchanges on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Defenders of Wildlife called on the National Park Service to remedy a host of management issues facing one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands on the East Coast.
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2019.08.07 - Florida Panther looking straight at camera - MS 45 - fStop Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Memo Underscores Trump Administration’s All-Fronts War on Wildlife

Brian Nesvik, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, issued a memorandum explaining to FWS staff that the Endangered Species Act’s prohibition on unauthorized “take” applies only to affirmative acts intentionally and purposefully directed at a particular animal. This follows the Trump administration’s rescission of the regulatory definitions of “harm” under the ESA, which took effect this week.
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A close up of the face of a Sierra Nevada Red Fox at the edge of a forest in Deschutes County, Oregon.
Washington, D.C.

Court Rules Habitat Must Be Protected After FWS Attempts to Waive Protections for Less Than 40 Sierra Nevada Red Fox

Defenders of Wildlife earned a significant victory for the Endangered Species Act today when a federal district court found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to not designate critical habitat for the endangered Sierra Nevada red fox was a violation of the law.

Press Releases

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Greater Sage Grouse - Wyoming
Washington, DC

Environmental Groups Urge Congress to End Harmful Sage-Grouse Rider

In a letter sent to key House and Senate appropriations committee leaders today, 80 environmental groups, including Defenders of Wildlife, are pressing for the exclusion
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North Fork of the American River from a high bank covered in wildflowers
Sacramento, CA

Drought Package Offers Relief for California’s Wildlife

Today, California State Senate leaders introduced a drought relief package to blunt the impacts of expected water shortages following an extremely dry winter.
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Bald eagle sitting at the top of an evergreen tree
Washington, DC

Congress Introduces Legislation to Protect Wildlife

On April 28, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) introduced legislation to protect wildlife and natural resources from the effects of climate
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Grizzly and cubs crossing road in Yellowstone NP
Island Park, ID

$40,000 Reward Offered Over Illegal Shooting of Mother Grizzly Bear in Idaho

Five conservation organizations are offering rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the illegal shooting of a female grizzly bear in Fremont County, Idaho.
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Oil in the water after BP oil spill June 2010
Lake Charles, LA

Groups File Third Intervention Defending Pause on Federal Oil, Gas Leasing

Conservation groups moved today to intervene in a lawsuit defending the Biden administration’s decision to pause new federal oil and gas leasing while it reviews the government leasing program.
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