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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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

Image
Sharon Wilcox Headshot
Austin, TX

Defenders of Wildlife Announces Dr. Sharon Wilcox, PH.D. as New Texas Representative

Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to announce Dr. Sharon Wilcox, Ph.D. has joined our Field Conservation team as a Texas representative, based in Austin.
Image
Prairie dogs
Laramie, WY

Forest Service Proposes Gutting Wildlife Protections on Thunder Basin National Grassland

Today the U.S. Forest Service made public their proposal to amend the Thunder Basin National Grassland management plan to strip protections for prairie dogs and the habitat they create for numerous species.
Image
Black wolf yellowstone
Portland, OR

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Releases Overdue Wolf Conservation and Management Plan Proposals

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) released its proposed edits to the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (Wolf Plan).
Image
Bald eagle
Washington, DC

Senate Confirms Ethics Challenged, Ex-Oil and Gas Lobbyist for Interior Secretary

The Senate voted to confirm Acting Secretary David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the Interior (56-41).
Image
Mexican_gray_wolf
Tucson, AZ

Annual Mexican Wolf Count Emphasizes Need for Continued Recovery Efforts

Today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released the official Mexican gray wolf population count for November 2018 through January 2019. According to the
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