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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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

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Bald eagle
Washington

REPORT: The Trump Administration’s Assault on Wildlife Conservation

The Trump administration has mounted an unprecedented assault on our wildlife and wild lands, according to a new report released today by Defenders of Wildlife

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
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