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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

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bans import of salamander species in the face of deadly disease

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: January 12, 2016 Contacts: Haley McKey, 202-772-0247, hmckey@defenders.org Melanie Gade, 202-772-0288, mgade@defenders.org U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bans import of salamander
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Fisher_FWS
Victor, ID

Northern Rockies Fishers One Step Closer to Endangered Species Act Protection

In response to a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity and allies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Northern Rockies fisher, a rare and vanishing species, may warrant federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Proposal to Downlist Manatee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 7, 2016 Contact: Haley McKey hmckey@defenders.org, (202) 772-0247 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today its proposal to downlist the

Defenders Condemns Illegal Takeover of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 6, 2016 Contact: Catalina Tresky: ctresky@defenders.org, (202) 772-0253 Defenders Condemns Illegal Takeover of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge WASHINGTON – On Saturday

Governor’s plan for Yellowstone bison management breaks gridlock

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 2015 Contact: Melanie Gade: mgade@defenders.org ; 202-772-0288 Governor’s Plan for Yellowstone Bison Management Breaks Gridlock BOZEMAN. Mont. –This week, Governor
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