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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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Conservation Groups Prepare for Lawsuit over Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan
A coalition of conservation groups sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service signaling their intent to sue unless officials fix the glaring flaws in
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New Footage of Ocelot Reminder of Need for Habitat Protection in Arizona
A wildlife trail camera recently captured footage of an ocelot roaming the Huachuca mountains of southeastern Arizona. The July 2023 video by wildlife hobbyist Jason Miller is exciting for conservations that hope to expand protections in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.
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A Landmark Victory Enhances Protection of Sea Turtles’ Habitat
Beaches along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Florida support the largest aggregation of nesting loggerhead sea turtles in the world. Within this range
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New Forest Service Rulemaking Must Address the Threats of Climate Change
Defenders of Wildlife today submitted its comments to the U.S. Forest Service as part of a public comment period to inform new policies that improve
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Defenders Opposes Amendments That Undercut Endangered Species Act in Interior Appropriations
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations today took up the Interior and Environment funding bill for the FY24. As proposed, the bill drastically decreases the necessary funding for important wildlife conservation programs across the country.
jcovey@defenders.org
