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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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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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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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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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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
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Defenders Applauds the Election of Rep. Huffman as Next Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources
Defenders of Wildlife president and CEO Andrew Bowman today issued the following statement in response to the Democratic Caucus’ unanimous vote to make Rep. Jared
jcovey@defenders.org
