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Offshore Oil Rig
Washington D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Challenges Unprecedented “God Squad” Exemption Allowing Unchecked Gulf Oil Drilling

Defenders of Wildlife today announced it is taking legal action to overturn an unprecedented and unlawful decision by the Endangered Species Committee, known as the “God Squad,” to exempt federal authorizations of oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico through a blanket exemption from the Endangered Species Act’s protections.
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Mt. Jefferson Landscape, Deschutes National Forest
Salem, OR

Oregon Governor Signs Historic Bill Investing in the Environment

Defenders of Wildlife is celebrating a monumental victory for wildlife, wild places and local economies in Oregon. Passed with bipartisan support and signed yesterday by
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Black-Footed Ferret Poking its Head Out
Washington, D.C.

Congress Urged to Fully Fund U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Restore Workforce

The Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and more than 150 conservation groups today urged Congress to significantly increase the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s budget for endangered species conservation from $299 million to $870 million.

Press Releases

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Red-cockaded woodpecker feasts on a bug
Washington, DC

Defenders 'Disappointed’ by Downlisting of Red Cockaded Woodpecker

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today downlisted the red-cockaded woodpecker from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act, a decision conservation groups
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2010.10.31 - Sierra Nevada Red Fox - Stanislaus National Forest - U.S. Department of Agriculture (CC by 2.0).jpg
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

Defenders to Sue Over Failure to Protect Habitat for One of Nation’s Rarest Mammals

Defenders of Wildlife today notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that it intends to sue over its failure to designate critical habitat for an
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2023.01.05- Right Whale Swimming with Calf-FWC-CC BY NC ND 2.0
Washington, DC

Defenders: Latest Right Whale Population Estimate Shows More to be Done

The North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium via NOAA Fisheries today updated the estimated population of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. The new estimate is
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Red Knots and Horseshoe Crabs
Annapolis, MD

Fisheries Commission Rejects Delaware Bay Female Horseshoe Crab Harvest Proposal

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission ( ASMFC) decided against allowing a bait harvest of female horseshoe crabs in Delaware Bay in 2025, maintaining a
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2015.03.30 - Desert Tortoise - Joshua Tree National Park - Kurt Moses, NPS.jpg
SAN FRANCISCO

Judge Rejects Federal Project Threatening California’s Desert Tortoises

A judge has rejected federal agencies’ approval of activities in the California Desert Conservation Area, including a vast network of off-road vehicle routes in 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