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gray wolf walking with paw raised and looking at camera
Olympia, WA

Washington State 2025 Wolf Count Increases, Depredations Decrease

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife today released the state’s 2025 minimum count for gray wolves at 270 individuals, a 17% increase from 2024
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gray wolf
Salem, OR

Oregon Releases 2025 Annual Wolf Count, Numbers Up

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today issued its 2025 gray wolf annual report, announcing an increase in the wolf population for a new
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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.

Press Releases

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2019.07.02-Landscape of Black Spruce Pines-Danielle Brigida-USFWS
Washington, DC

2024 Presidential Election — Our Gameplan: Defend Wildlife

Here at Defenders of Wildlife, we get up every morning with one goal in mind: defend the animals, landscapes and natural bounty that define our nation. And, today, our 2.1 million members are counting on us more than ever to fulfill that goal so that wildlife they love isn’t lost into the void of extinction.
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Mexican gray wolf
Washington, D.C.

Defenders Awarded Wildlife Conservation Grant from Foxwynd Foundation

Defenders of Wildlife and the Foxwynd Foundation today announce a partnership in wildlife conservation through a generous donation provided by the Foxwynd Foundation's Donor Advised Fund.
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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
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