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Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is on his way home after being released from a cold-stun rehab center.
New Orleans, LA

Defenders Celebrates U.S. Appeals Court Ruling to Protect Imperiled Sea Turtles from Drowning in Fishing Nets

A federal appeals court upheld the rule requiring shrimp trawling vessels to use turtle excluder devices so that sea turtles can avoid getting caught in nets.
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pale gray north atlantic right whale swimming in dark blue ocean with an entangled string wrapped around the top of its head and seen underneath it's lower body
Washington, DC

House Gambles with Survival for North Atlantic Right Whales in Latest Vote to Delay Protections

The House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 9436, a bill that will delay conservation protections for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
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 Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Izembek Volcanoe
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

District Court Okays Bulldozing a Road to the Doorstep of Izembek Wilderness

A federal district court in Alaska today allowed construction to begin on a 2.8-mile road segment on KCC lands to connect to a 10.5-mile road within Izembek.

Press Releases

House Committee Hearing on Expansive Wildlife Extinction Package

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on an expansive anti-wildlife package of bills that would weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA)

H.R. 6784 Strips Protections from Endangered Gray Wolves

On the same day it is holding a congressional hearing on an extinction package that would cripple endangered species protections, the House Natural Resources Committee
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Sea otter mom and pup
Carmel, CA

Caution Needed Over Latest Survey Results of the Southern Sea Otter Population

According to the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) 2018 spring survey of the southern sea otter population published today, sea otter numbers have declined off the coast of California since peaking in 2016, but the average population count remains above 3,090 for the third consecutive year.

Broad Coalition Submitted More Than 800,000 Comments Opposing Trump’s Plan to Weaken the Endangered Species Act Regulations

Today, a broad coalition formally submitted more than 500,000 public comments bringing the total to more than 800,000 comments opposing proposed changes to the regulations

230+ Groups Oppose Trump Administration Plan to Cripple Endangered Species Act

More than 200 conservation and animal-welfare organizations today urged Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in a letter to withdraw three dangerous proposals that would undermine 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