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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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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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.
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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.
Press Releases
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Biden’s Climate Leadership Summit Calls for Immediate Action
Earth Day is apropos for President Biden to hold his first-ever virtual Leaders Summit on Climate. Attended by 40 world leaders, this two-day summit underscores
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House Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Outdoor Access, Imperiled Species Habitat
Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) and Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.) reintroduced a bill today to authorize funding for the Legacy Roads and Trails Act.
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U.S. Wildlife Officials Petitioned to Ban Import, Sale of Banggai Cardinalfish
Conservation groups filed a petition today urging NOAA Fisheries to ban the import and sale of threatened Banggai cardinalfish from Indonesia. The Banggai cardinalfish, a coral reef inhabitant known for its bold black bands and white-speckled fins, has seen its numbers plummet by as much as 90 percent since the 1990s, due to decades of overexploitation by the aquarium trade.
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DOI Announces $78 Million in Funding for Wetland Conservation and National Wildlife Refuges
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today announced that $78 million in grants were approved to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conserve or restore nearly 500,000 acres habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other migratory birds across North America.
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Oregon’s Wolf Population Continues to Increase Despite Poaching, Conflicts
Oregon is now home to 22 confirmed wolf packs, according to the state’s annual wolf report. The report, released by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), shared that the total wolf population was reported at an estimated173 wolves. This is an increase of 15 individuals, and 17 of the 22 packs contain breeding pairs.
jcovey@defenders.org
