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Stefan Ekernas
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Welcomes Stefan Ekernas as New Vice President of Species Conservation & Coexistence

Defenders of Wildlife is proud to announce Stephan Ekernas as its new Vice President of Species Conservation and Coexistence, where he will oversee Defenders’ field conservation programs.
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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condemns the rule, which mirrors a 2020 regulation promulgated by the first Trump administration that was later withdrawn and replaced in 2024.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.

Press Releases

Trump Administration Opens National Wildlife Refuges to Pollinator Poisons and Harmful GMOs

The Trump administration has reversed an Obama administration ban on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides and genetically engineered crops on national wildlife refuges where farming

PRESS ADVISORY: Orca Recovery Task Force Meeting in Wenatchee

TITLE: SOUND THE ALARM FOR ORCAS WHAT: Orca Salmon Alliance to deliver 43,000 signatures of support for orca recovery WHERE: Confluence Technology Center, 85 technology

Forest Service Rolls Back Protections for Roadless Areas in the Tongass National Forest

In a controversial move , t he Trump administration announced today that it is assenting to the S tate of Alaska’s request to r e

Lawsuit Challenges Oregon’s Denial of Full Protection for Marbled Murrelets

Five conservation groups filed a lawsuit today against the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Commission for failing to uplist the marbled murrelet from

Senator Cantwell Introduces a Bill to Protect Our Nation’s Roadless Areas in Federal Forests

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced a bill today to protect roadless areas in our nation’s national forests. In January the State of Alaska requested that
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