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manta rays swimming in the shallow ocean with coral
Fort Myers, FL

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Tightening Protections for Listed Species

Defenders of Wildlife welcomes today’s action by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to end open permitting for the capture of ESA-threatened marine species in Florida waters for public display and exhibition purposes.
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NARW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Legal Intervention Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Ship Strikes

Conservation groups today filed a motion to intervene to help fight a lawsuit aimed at overturning a seasonal speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The groups want to defend the rule against a lawsuit brought by a New York vessel owner fined for violating seasonal speed limits. The suit alleges that NOAA Fisheries lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule.
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sage grouse in snow at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge
Washington, D.C.

Final Rescission of Public Lands Rule Reverses Modern Land Management, Threatens Wildlife Habitat

The Bureau of Land Management today announced a decision to roll back the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, commonly referred to as the Public Lands Rule. The policy modernized how BLM manages our national public lands and represented the critical incorporation of ecological resilience into management alongside traditional resource extraction.

Press Releases

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Swamp Lined with Trees at Okefenokee NWR
Washington, DC

Defenders Applauds Okefenokee Nomination to UNESCO World Heritage List

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a more than 400,000-acre wetland supporting hundreds of plant and animal species, is set to be nominated to join the
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2011.06.20 - Mojave Desert Tortoise - Mojave Desert - California - Nate Rathbun.jpg
ST. GEORGE, UTAH

Decades-Long Highway Fight Ends with Victory for Red Cliffs NCA

Yesterday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) signed a Record of Decision to deny a right-of-way for the
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Captive Red Wolf at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
Columbia, NC

New Federal Grant For U.S. Hwy 64 Crossings Could Save Endangered Red Wolves And Other Wildlife

The Federal Highway Administration announced today that the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation will receive $25 million to build new wildlife crossing structures on U.S. 64 to help save the endangered Red Wolf from extinction.
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2009.04.10 - Florida Panther Traffic Sign - Heidi Ridgley - DOW
St. Petersburg, Fl.

Defenders Statement on 2024 Florida Panther Road Deaths

Defenders of Wildlife today responded to media reports claiming that 2024 has tied the record for number of Florida panthers killed by vehicles. Elizabeth Fleming
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Nantahala-Pisgah
Asheville, NC

Forest Service Urged to Amend Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan in Wake of Hurricane Helene

A coalition of conservation groups sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service this week, asking the agency to amend the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan due
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