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Washington monument - cherry blossoms
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Unveils 2025 Conservation Report Card for 119th Congress

Defenders of Wildlife today released its 2025 Conservation Report Card for the 119th Congress, measuring members’ commitment to upholding federal laws that protect wildlife conservation during its first session.
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Joshua tree sunset
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Sues FWS Over Extensive FOIA Request Delays

Defenders of Wildlife today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, citing the agency’s extensive delay in fulfilling eight Freedom of Information Act requests related to land exchanges within the National Wildlife Refuge System.
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08.22.25 - Bear backlit 2 -  Lake Clark National Park - Running Wild Media.jpg
WASHINGTON, DC

Trump Administration Turns its Back on Wildlife – Again

The National Park Service today proposed a regulation that would abdicate the agency from its responsibility to manage wildlife in Alaska’s national preserves and to

Press Releases

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Right Whale
Washington, DC

Statement on North Atlantic Right Whale Death

Yesterday, a dead North Atlantic right whale was discovered four miles south of Fire Island inlet near Long Island, New York.
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Hellbender Kat Diersen
Nashville, TN

Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy Awarded $100,000 to Support the Eastern Hellbender Salamander

The Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy (ARC) has received a $100,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) that will be used for programs that help conserve and protect the eastern hellbender salamander. ARC and conservation partner Defenders of Wildlife contributed $50,000 each in matching funds for a total conservation impact of $200,000.
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Laysan Albatross Chick in Marine Debris
Sacramento, CA

SB 1 Passes and Californians, Imperiled Species Win Over Industrial Water Interests

Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the California Environmental, Public Health and Worker’s Defense Act of 2019, was authored by Senator Toni Atkins. SB 1 is designed to defend California’s clean air, water, and wildlife from the reckless attempts by the Trump administration to derail key protections, including dramatically weakening the federal Endangered Species Act, repealing the Clean Water Rule and jeopardizing the drinking water supplies of millions of Americans, and loosening prohibitions on the importation of trophy hunted endangered species.
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Lesser Prairie Chicken

Lesser Prairie Chickens One Step Closer to Endangered Species Protection

Conservation groups scored a victory today with a legal agreement ensuring the lesser prairie chicken will get a decision about protection under the ESA.
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Polar Bear
Washington, DC

U.S. House Passes Legislation to Protect Arctic Refuge in Historic Vote

Today in a historic vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed (225-193) the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that would halt the Trump administration in its efforts to pursue oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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