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Washington, DC

BLM Prepares Illegal Move to Open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge to Oil & Gas, a Dangerous Precedent for Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife is calling on BLM to withdrawal an unprecedented proposal to open Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in Utah to new oil and gas leasing.
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Jake Li Testimony at EPW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

A Much-Needed Win for Wildlife: Senate Introduces Bill to Improve Endangered Species Act Implementation

Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Pete Rickets (R-NE) today introduced the Improving Species Recovery Act, an important bipartisan bill that would improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
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Porcupine caribou making its way through deep snow on the East Fork of the Chandalar River
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Enough is Enough: Senate Blocks Yet Another Attempt to Prioritize Drilling in the Arctic

The Senate today blocked an attempt to pass S. 5438, introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). The bill would have ratified and approved all authorizations, permits, verifications, extensions, biological opinions, incidental take statements and any other approvals or orders issued pursuant to federal law necessary for the establishment and administration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program, among other purposes.

Press Releases

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Green sea turtle hatchling at Archie Carr NWR
Washington, DC

60 Percent of Threatened Species Lack Conservation Plans That Address Climate Change Risk According to New Defenders Research

A new Defenders of Wildlife study published today in Biological Conservation finds that 60 percent of US animal species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act lack conservation plans from the US Fish and Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Services that address the risks of climate change.
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NARW
Washington, DC

New Congressional Appropriations Language Delays Conservation Measures for Critically Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale

This morning, the House Appropriations Committee is marking up its FY24 appropriations bill for the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. The bill contains language
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SG
Washington, DC

Congress Pulls Out Double Barrel Shotgun in Blatant Attack on Wildlife Protections

In a stunning abuse of power, the House Appropriations Committee Majority released its FY24 Interior Appropriations bill which is riddled with destructive riders that attack
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Greater sage-grouse
Washington, DC

BLM Must Strengthen Proposed Rule to Protect and Preserve Ecosystem Health and Wildlife

Defenders of Wildlife today submitted its comments to the Bureau of Land Management on its proposed Conservation and Landscape Health proposed rule, which appropriately attempts
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Dunes Sagebrush Lizard
Washington, DC

Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Proposed For Endangered Species Act Listing After Defenders Advocacy and Decades of Need

In a tumultuous and long-awaited win, today the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the dunes sagebrush lizard as endangered under the Endangered Species Act
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