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Mike Leahy headshot
Washington, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Announces Mike Leahy as New Vice President of Government Relations

Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to announce Mike Leahy as its new Vice President of Government Relations.
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manta rays swimming in the shallow ocean with coral
Fort Myers, FL

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Tightening Protections for Listed Species

Defenders of Wildlife welcomes today’s action by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to end open permitting for the capture of ESA-threatened marine species in Florida waters for public display and exhibition purposes.
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NARW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Legal Intervention Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Ship Strikes

Conservation groups today filed a motion to intervene to help fight a lawsuit aimed at overturning a seasonal speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The groups want to defend the rule against a lawsuit brought by a New York vessel owner fined for violating seasonal speed limits. The suit alleges that NOAA Fisheries lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule.

Press Releases

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Piping plover mom and chick
Washington, DC

New Study Shows Agency Plans Inadequate to Protect Endangered Animals from Climate Change

Research lead by Defenders of Wildlife reveals agencies charged with protecting animals listed under the ESA are not adequately addressing threats from climate change.
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Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
Tucson, Ariz.

Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl May Get Protected Again

As part of a lawsuit, the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife today obtained a court-enforceable deadline — Aug. 5, 2021 — for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide whether the pygmy owl should again be protected as an endangered species.
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Southern_Resident_Orca
Seattle, WA

Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force Releases Final Year Two Report to Gov. Inslee

Washington’s Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force today released the final version of its recommendations in year two for saving southern resident orcas from extinction.
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Organ-pipe-cactus-national-monument

ADVISORY: Rally to Stop the Border Wall, Save Organ Pipe National Monument

Supporters of Organ Pipe and those who oppose a border wall slashing through this precious and sacred land are taking a stand.
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California-spotted-owl
Washington, DC

California Spotted Owl Denied Critical Federal Protections

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will deny the California spotted owl federal Endangered Species Act protections.
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