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Florida panther
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Submits Technical Comments and Over 8,400 Public Comments in Efforts to Stop Harmful ESA Proposals

Defenders of Wildlife today submitted its technical comments opposing the Trump administration’s proposals to weaken the Endangered Species Act’s implementing regulations.
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black-footed ferret at the nat'l black-footed ferret conservation center
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Slams SPEED Act as it Speeds Toward Habitat Destruction

Defenders of Wildlife condemns Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) SPEED ACT, H.R. 4776 the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act, ahead of Thursday’s expected floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Roaming mountain goat
Washington, D.C.

ESA Amendments Act Poses a Historic Threat to America’s Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife remains on high alert as it braces for the House Natural Resources Committee’s full markup of Rep. Bruce Westerman’s (R-AR) Endangered Species Amendments Act of 2025. More aptly labeled the Extinction Act, the bill seeks to eviscerate the Endangered Species Act, stripping away decades of crucial protections for America’s wildlife and their habitats.

Press Releases

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Right Whale
Washington, DC

House Introduces the SAVE Right Whales Act

The legislation would support the recovery of the critically imperiled North Atlantic right whale.
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A 72 pound female wolf of the Minam Pack, after being radio-collared on June 3, 2014
Washington, DC

Fish and Wildlife Service Moves to Delist Wolves

Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will soon propose a rule to delist the gray wolf in the Lower 48 states and return management to the states.
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Hill Country State Natural Area in Bandera County
Washington, DC

Interactive Story Map Details Border Wall Impacts to Lower Rio Grande Valley

Defenders launched a new interactive story map which details how border wall construction would impact the people, places and wildlife of the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
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Crater Lake OR

State of Utah Petitions Feds to Eliminate Roadless Protections, Paving the Way for More Development on Pristine National Forest Lands

The State of Utah formally petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture late yesterday to eliminate and reduce protections for pristine areas within Utah’s national forests
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Defenders of Wildlife Logo
Washington, DC

New Analysis Released on Illegal Wildlife Shipments from Latin America Seized in the U.S.

Defenders of Wildlife has released an updated analysis of illegal wildlife shipments from Latin America seized in the United States from 2007-2017. Ten years of
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
jpetrequin@defenders.org
(202) 772-0243
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268