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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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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.
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Jake Li Testimony at EPW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

A Much-Needed Win for Wildlife: Senate Introduces Bill to Improve Endangered Species Act Implementation

Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Pete Rickets (R-NE) today introduced the Improving Species Recovery Act, an important bipartisan bill that would improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act.

Press Releases

Washington, DC

Federal Agency Orders Halt to Mountain Valley Pipeline Construction

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission late yesterday ordered the fracked gas Mountain Valley Pipeline to halt construction activities along the entire 303-mile route of the
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Washington, DC

More Than 270 Groups Urge Senate to Increase Endangered Species Funding

In the face of growing concerns over the global wildlife extinction crisis, more than 270 conservation groups today urged the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
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Lupine flowers in Kootznoowoo Wilderness, Admiralty Island National Monument, Tongass National Forest, Alaska
Juneau, AK

Trump Administration Paves Way for Old-growth Clearcutting in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest

The Trump administration today announced plans to gut long-standing protections against logging and road-building in the Tongass National Forest, a cherished old-growth temperate rainforest in Southeast Alaska and homelands of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people.
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Washington, DC

Defenders of Wildlife Reacts to Retirement of Environmental Champion Rep. Lowey

Defenders of Wildlife reacts to retirement announcement of Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.).
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Prairie dog mom and pup
Laramie, WY

New U.S. Forest Service management proposals threaten endangered wildlife, ecosystem of Thunder Basin National Grassland

Today, the U.S. Forest Service released a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Thunder Basin National Grassland containing management alternatives designed to strip vital protections that vulnerable native species depend on, placing ranching interests over wildlife conservation.
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