Defenders of Wildlife Blog

As denning polar bear mothers care for their newborn cubs, the U.S. House could pass a devastating plan to industrialize the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—the most important onshore denning grounds for these threatened animals that are struggling to survive.

This will be the most important vote on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in five years—and it will likely happen this week.

Take action now: Urge your U.S. Representative to stand up for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and oppose the terrible Transportation Bill.

Scientists say that America’s polar bears could disappear in just a few short decades. But that’s not stopping Big Oil’s allies in Congress from handing over important polar bear homes for dirty drilling. And it’s not just the Arctic Refuge that’s at stake. This bill would also open up the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

It’s a sweetheart deal for Big Oil—and a sellout of one of our most pristine natural areas that provides too little, too late for funding today’s transportation needs.

Stand up for polar bears and other wildlife—urge your U.S. Representative to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other coastal waters from Big Oil.

It’s not just our polar bears that need your voice. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of America’s most unique natural treasures, supporting a vast array of wildlife including arctic foxes, grizzly bears, muskoxen, Dall sheep, wolves and wolverines. And the coastal areas that this bill would open up to Big Oil are home to sea turtles, dolphins, and other wildlife.

Together, we can protect the Arctic Refuge—and the special wildlife that depend on it to survive.

Please take action today to urge your U.S. Representative to oppose this environmentally destructive and fiscally irresponsible bill that gives the heart of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and our coastal waters away to Big Oil.

Help protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of USFWS

BREAKING: Republican leaders of the House Natural Resources Committee today did the bidding of Big Oil once again and voted to open up the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the protected eastern Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Bristol Bay to oil drilling all under the pretext of funding this year’s transportation bill.

Conservative politicians have always wanted to open the Arctic refuge to drilling for the Big Oil companies. The transportation bill and the professed need for revenue is just the latest excuse to push something they have wanted for a long time.

The funding issue is a scam. Even the most generous revenue estimates from this reckless expansion of drilling will not be enough to fund proposed transportation projects in the bill. In addition, what small amounts of revenue might be generated would not be seen for ten years as oil companies will still need to explore, apply for drilling permits and start development. That’s too late to pay for transportation projects starting next year.

This giveaway to Big Oil will expose millions of acres of America’s pristine land and water to dirty and dangerous oil and gas development from which they may never recover.

Jamie Clark in 2010 witnessing the devastation of BP oil disaster firsthand.

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, said:

“Just in time for Valentine’s Day, House leaders in Congress have come out with a sweetheart deal for their Big Oil allies. Opening the Arctic refuge to drilling has been a long-standing priority of the backwards-looking, drill first crowd and the transportation bill is just the latest excuse to do so. The proposed revenue from this deal won’t even materialize for years, making this one of the most disingenuous refuge-drilling schemes we’ve ever seen, to say nothing of the environmental destruction it would cause.

“Instead of sacrificing some of America’s most pristine wilderness and waters for the profit of Big Oil, Congress should focus on coming up with real solutions to fund the transportation projects that will decrease our addiction to oil and keep our country moving.”

Learn more:

Take Action!  Ask your representative to oppose this bill and protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the wildlife that call it home.

Read more about how Defenders is working to protect America’s Arctic from the dangers of dirty oil and gas drilling.

Idaho's wolves are in the crosshairs. You can help save them. Please take action now!

Will your tax dollars pay for an ill-conceived aerial wolf cull in Northeastern Idaho – an unscientific plan to boost game populations that could kill as many as two thirds of the wolves in the Lolo District of the Clearwater National Forest?

Tell President Obama to stop aerial wolf killing in Idaho before it starts. Send your message right now.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has asked federal officials at Wildlife Services to use helicopters, sharpshooters and your tax dollars to find, target and kill most of the wolves in this wild area of Idaho.

President Obama can save these wolves. He need only direct Wildlife Services to deny Idaho’s request.

Ask President Obama to stop Wildlife Services from spending federal tax dollars on this ill-conceived aerial wolf killing plan designed to artificially boost game populations.

The wolf killing could begin within days – on our National Forests and paid for with your tax dollars – so please send your message now.

When President Obama took office in 2009, he promised to put science first in the management of America’s wildlife and natural resources. Now he has a chance to do just that by rejecting Idaho’s request for federal resources to kill wolves.

The President need only recognize the importance of ensuring sustainable populations of these ecologically important and iconic animals and reject Idaho’s attempts to artificially boost game numbers.

If we’re going to stop this wasteful wolf cull, President Obama needs to hear from as many caring people as possible. Please send your message today and help us send at least 75,000 messages to the White House by the end of the week.

Speak out for wolves and against using federal tax dollars to kill wolves in Idaho. Send your message now.

As many as 75 wolves in Northern Idaho could be targeted for death by federal aerial gunners.

It’s outrageous: federal sharpshooters are preparing to take to the skies of Northern Idaho in an ill-conceived attempt to kill as many as 75 wolves to artificially boost game populations.

Idaho’s wolf-killing plan is unscientific and misplaced, but the Obama Administration appears to be going along with it. To stop the killing, Defenders of Wildlife has launched a flash mobilization campaign.

Please join the fight. Urge United States Department of Agriculture head Tom Vilsack to stop the killing before it begins.

The proposed plan – requested by state officials in Idaho – is for Wildlife Services, a program under Secretary Vilsack’s supervision, to use federal staff, helicopters and other aircraft to gun down wolves in the Lolo region and the Clearwater National Forest – public lands also under Secretary Vilsack’s supervision that belong to you and me.

Already, more than 56,000 Defenders activists have called on Secretary Vilsack to prevent the wolf cull. Will you add your voice to the call to save these wolves from unnecessary slaughter?

Help save the Lolo wolves. Take action now.

The stated reason for the wolf-killing plan is that some believe that wolves are reducing elk numbers. But elk numbers began decreasing in the area long before wolves returned, as suitable elk habitat in the area declined due to natural changes.

A lack of sound science isn’t stopping anti-wolf extremists from declaring war on the Lolo wolves.

On December 14th, Ron Gillett of the Idaho Anti-Wolf Coalition told The Los Angeles Times bluntly that: “We want these wolves dead.”

Help save as many as 75 wolves in Idaho and support sound, science-based decision-making in wolf management. Please take action now.

Click the screenshot to go straight to the Defenders Facebook Adoption Center

Want to make this holiday season even more meaningful by helping to protect wolves, polar bears, sea turtles and other threatened and endangered wildlife?

Then check out Defenders’ new Facebook application that lets you:

• Send free, wildlife-themed eCards to your friends and family to celebrate special occasions—or just to say you’re thinking of them
• Create a wildlife adoption wish list that your friends can use to buy you a gift that supports a cause with special meaning for you
• Adopt one of our 28 different animals for your own friends and family (or yourself!)
• Invite your friends to fundraise with you to help save our wild animals and special places

… All without ever leaving Facebook!

Get Started!

NOTE: When you first go to the application, you’ll receive a pop-up that asks you to authorize the application to collect information it needs to work properly. (The pop-up may have a different appearance depending on your browser.)

Click to see full-sized version

Send Free, Wildlife-Themed eCards

The Defenders Facebook Adoption Center lets you send eCards with beautiful animal photos to your friends to wish them happy holidays, celebrate their birthday, or just to say “Hey!” It’s a great way to show you care for your friends—and our wildlife treasures.

Got Questions?

Pleaswe email webmaster@defenders.org with any questions you have about the application and someone will respond to you as soon as possible.