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Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is on his way home after being released from a cold-stun rehab center.
New Orleans, LA

Defenders Celebrates U.S. Appeals Court Ruling to Protect Imperiled Sea Turtles from Drowning in Fishing Nets

A federal appeals court upheld the rule requiring shrimp trawling vessels to use turtle excluder devices so that sea turtles can avoid getting caught in nets.
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pale gray north atlantic right whale swimming in dark blue ocean with an entangled string wrapped around the top of its head and seen underneath it's lower body
Washington, DC

House Gambles with Survival for North Atlantic Right Whales in Latest Vote to Delay Protections

The House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 9436, a bill that will delay conservation protections for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
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 Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Izembek Volcanoe
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

District Court Okays Bulldozing a Road to the Doorstep of Izembek Wilderness

A federal district court in Alaska today allowed construction to begin on a 2.8-mile road segment on KCC lands to connect to a 10.5-mile road within Izembek.

Press Releases

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Block Island Wind Farm
Washington, D.C.

Biden Administration to Expand Offshore Wind

The Biden administration announced plans today for a significant expansion of the nation’s offshore wind efforts. Officials announced a goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by the end of the decade, offsetting fossil fuels and creating clean energy jobs.
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baby desert tortoise in shell
San Francisco, CA

Lawsuit Launched Over Federal Project Threatening Desert Tortoises, Other Imperiled Species in California Deserts

Environmental groups filed a formal notice today of their intent to sue the Interior Department, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for authorizing activities in the California Desert Conservation Area that are driving desert tortoises and other threatened and endangered species toward extinction.
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Mojave Desert Tortoise, Mojave Max, on stones
Los Angeles, CA

Lawsuit Targets Trump Administration’s Last-minute Pipeline Approval for California Desert Water Grab

Conservation groups sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management today for granting a right-of-way to Cadiz, Inc. to push billions of gallons of water through a mothballed oil-and-gas pipeline that crosses Mojave Trails National Monument and other protected public land in southeastern California.
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OR-13, a female gray wolf of the Wenaha pack
Portland, Ore.

Oregon Investigates Deaths of Five Wolves

Five wolves were found dead in the Mt. Harris area of Union County, Oregon. The Fish and Wildlife division of Oregon State Police are currently conducting an investigation into this unusual mortality event. The cause of death is currently unknown.
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western snowy plover chicks and egg
Sacramento, CA

Victory for Oceano Dunes State Park, Imperiled Wildlife

The California Coastal Commission voted unanimously last evening to amend the permit for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area to phase out off-highway vehicle (OHV) use over the next three years.
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