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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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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.
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Construction on Gateway to Road through Izembek Continues
The Ninth Circuit today denied Defenders of Wildlife’s emergency motion to halt construction on King Cove Corp.’s 2.8-mile road segment leading to the doorstep of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness. Defenders’ request for immediate injunctive relief marks the latest stage in its larger effort to block a damaging and precedent-setting road from King Cove to Cold Bay, Alaska, that would plow through the heart of Izembek.
Press Releases
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Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Signs Off on Bison Management Plan
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks today announced the completion of Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the restoration of bison in the state. This EIS is the first official decision in favor of reintroducing wild free-ranging bison to their historic range outside of Yellowstone National Park. The EIS paves the way for the agency to now consider site-specific proposals for the state’s management of bison as wildlife.
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Wolf Reintroduction in Colorado Will Appear on 2020 Ballot
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced today that Initiative 107, which would require Colorado Parks and Wildlife to develop a plan to reintroduce wolves
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Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, the Hawaiian Hawk is Fully Recovered
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today removed the Hawaiian hawk, the only hawk native to Hawai’i, from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened
Defenders Announces Science Advisors
Defenders of Wildlife today announced its expanded group of Science Advisors as part of its continuing commitment to ensure science plays the leading role in wildlife conservation policy.
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Report Releases Findings on Lower Snake River Stakeholder Process as Washington Looks to Save Orcas
Today marked the release of official findings from a stakeholder process regarding the removal of four dams from the lower Snake River.
jcovey@defenders.org
