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Stefan Ekernas
WASHINGTON, D.C.

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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brown bear
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.
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Washington, DC

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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Desert-National-Wildlife-Refuge
Washington, DC

Proposed Legislation on Military Use of Desert National Wildlife Refuge Shortchanges Wildlife Protection

Today Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced legislation that would renew military use of the Nevada Test and Training Range and expand Air Force control over Desert National Wildlife Refuge.
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ocelot
Washington, DC

Bad News for Wildlife: Border Wall Funding Approved in 2020 Spending Bill

After weeks of negotiations, Congress unveiled the $1.4 trillion package that will raise discretionary federal spending by $49 billion for the rest of fiscal 2020.
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Mexican Gray Wolf
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

Two More Mexican Gray Wolves Caught in Traps as Incidents Continue in New Mexico

Defenders of Wildlife has learned that two more Mexican gray wolves were recently caught in foothold traps in New Mexico.
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Polar Bear
Anchorage, AK

Defenders Statement on National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Lease Sale, IAP Hearing

The Trump administration will be holding an oil and gas lease sale for 4 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) today. Lease sales in the NPRA have been held annually since 2011. The last two lease sales in the reserve brought in $1 million and $1.5 million, respectively.
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Red wolf running
Raleigh, NC

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Red Wolf Transfer to Recovery Area in North Carolina

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that they will transfer three critically-endangered Red Wolves to the Red Wolf Recovery Area in eastern North Carolina.
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