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Northern Spotted Owl in Tree
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders Expands Legal Challenge to Trump Administration’s Assault on Endangered Species Act

Defenders of Wildlife today filed an amended complaint challenging the Trump administration’s escalating effort to dismantle longstanding protections for threatened and endangered wildlife under the Endangered Species Act.
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Salt Marsh - Cumberland Island
ST. MARYS, GEORGIA

NPS Land Swaps and Visitor Plan Open the Door to Devastating Impacts at Cumberland Island

In advance of a public hearing on proposed land exchanges on Cumberland Island National Seashore, Defenders of Wildlife called on the National Park Service to remedy a host of management issues facing one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands on the East Coast.
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2019.08.07 - Florida Panther looking straight at camera - MS 45 - fStop Foundation
WASHINGTON, D.C.

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.

Press Releases

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Mexican_gray_wolf

Study Confirms Political Interference in Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery

A new study released today confirms politics rather than scientific data played a role in influencing criteria for listing and reintroduction efforts for the Mexican gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act.
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Capitol Building
Washington, DC

The ‘Recovering America’s Wildlife Act’ Does Not Adequately Respond to the Extinction Crisis

Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) introduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) today in the House of Representatives. The legislation would amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to fund the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Subaccount to support management of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and other purposes.
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Boquillas Canyon Big Bend TX
Sacramento, CA

California Passes Vital Legislation to Protect Desert Water, Parks, Wildlife and Tribal Resources

The California Assembly passed and sent legislation (SB 307) to Governor Newsom today, which will require new and independent environmental review of the proposed Cadiz Inc. groundwater mining project that threatens parks, wildlife and sacred tribal lands in the Mojave Desert.
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A 100 lb adult male wolf was GPS radio-collared in the Mt Emily unit
Seattle, WA

WDFW Orders Killing of OPT Pack Wolves

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced more lethal removals from the OPT wolf pack in the Kettle Range in northern Ferry County.
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Right Whale
Washington, DC

Statement on Maine Congressional Delegation’s Letter to President Trump on Right Whale Regulations

Today, the Maine Congressional Delegation sent a letter to President Trump asking him to prevent the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from developing new science-based regulations to protect the North Atlantic right whale from deadly fishing gear.
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