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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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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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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
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Defenders' Statement on CPW Commission Denial of Petition to Pause Gray Wolf Reintroduction
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission today announced it will deny a petition to pause the state's voter-mandated gray wolf reintroduction program. Defenders of Wildlife's
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Second Legally Mandated Lease Sale in the Arctic Refuge a Complete Failure, Receives No Bids
The second mandated oil and gas lease sale in ANWR received zero bids, reinforcing broad opposition to drilling in this ecologically irreplaceable landscape.
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Defenders Statement on Grizzly Bear Delisting Status Decision
WASHINGTON, DC — The US Fish & Wildlife Service today determined there is not a basis to delist grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide
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Defenders of Wildlife Challenges FWS Unlawful Evasion of Habitat Protection for Rare Species
Defenders of Wildlife today is challenging a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulation that allows the agency to unlawfully dodge its legal duty to designate
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Defenders Statement on Biden Protections for U.S. Coasts from Offshore Drilling
WASHINGTON, DC — President Joe Biden today took action to protect over 625 million acres of U.S. ocean waters from offshore oil and gas drilling
jcovey@defenders.org
