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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.
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A close up of the face of a Sierra Nevada Red Fox at the edge of a forest in Deschutes County, Oregon.
Washington, D.C.

Court Rules Habitat Must Be Protected After FWS Attempts to Waive Protections for Less Than 40 Sierra Nevada Red Fox

Defenders of Wildlife earned a significant victory for the Endangered Species Act today when a federal district court found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to not designate critical habitat for the endangered Sierra Nevada red fox was a violation of the law.
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Three sea otters float in the water. There are hills or mountains in the distance in the background.

Construction on Gateway to Road through Izembek Continues

The Ninth Circuit today denied Defenders of Wildlife’s emergency motion to halt construction on King Cove Corp.’s 2.8-mile road segment leading to the doorstep of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness. Defenders’ request for immediate injunctive relief marks the latest stage in its larger effort to block a damaging and precedent-setting road from King Cove to Cold Bay, Alaska, that would plow through the heart of Izembek.

Press Releases

Injunction Provides Hope for Next Generation of Dinosaur-like Pallid Sturgeon

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (July 5, 2017) – A Montana federal district court judge today granted a temporary injunction halting construction of a concrete dam and

Appellate Court Reminds Federal Agency to Follow the Law

WASHINGTON (June 30, 2017) – The D.C. Circuit Court today affirmed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must consider harm to imperiled species when it

Sportsmen’s Bill Would Harm, Not Help Wildlife  

WASHINGTON (June 30, 2017) — Yesterday, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and several other senators introduced S. 1514, the Hunting Heritage and Environmental Legacy Preservation

Fishing and Conservation Groups Sue to Block Delta Tunnels Project

SAN FRANCISCO (June 29, 2017) - Conservation and fishing groups filed litigation today challenging the biological opinions issued Monday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Releases Draft Recovery Plan for Mexican Gray Wolves

SANTA FE (June 29, 2017) – As part of its 2016 settlement with conservationists, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released today the long-overdue
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