By Jamie Rappaport Clark 75 years ago, when Defenders of Wildlife was founded to address the cruelty of steeljaw leghold traps, there were no environmental laws in America. The last wolf pack in Yellowstone Park had been eliminated 21 years before, and few Americans had even taken notice. Most people…

Human activities are causing a biodiversity crisis that threatens the natural world. Habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, the spread of invasive species and overexploitation of wildlife have pushed countless species to the brink. These threats, like a warming planet and widespread wildlife extinction, not only put individual species and places…

With Endangered Species Day on May 20, it’s a perfect time to raise awareness of species facing extinction, because the more people talking about wildlife and the extinction crisis, the more effective we’ll be at preventing it. There are some widespread misconceptions out there about endangered species, and even about…

As President and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, I’m used to fielding questions about complex challenges like biodiversity loss and climate change. Lately, the urgency to compel action features heavily in my responses. It’s soberingly clear from the drumbeat from scientists that our planet is at a tipping point. Often…

It was late last November, and Mr. Goodbar was stuck at the border wall in New Mexico. For five days, he paced back and forth along the wall looking for an opening to pass into Mexico. Giving up, Mr. Goodbar headed northwest away from the border. You see, Mr. Goodbar…

As a wildlife biologist, though I’ve spent my career focused on biodiversity, I can remember a time before the term was used or the concept was truly understood. We discussed it as scientists, of course. But when I testified before Congress, or communicated with the general public, I was more…

When I was asked to write about my experiences for International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I had to pause and reflect. I’ve always thought of myself as a wildlife biologist, not specifically a woman biologist. All I ever wanted was what anyone — regardless of gender —…

I have worked at Defenders of Wildlife to conserve and recover Florida manatees for nearly two decades. And after a lot of devastating news recently about this vulnerable species, I was thrilled to see a healthy-looking manatee while I was on a walk in my neighborhood. I enjoy seeing manatees…

By Jamie Rappaport Clark Birds may be the one and only creature everyone can connect with every single day. From city streets and backwoods to ocean shores, we see them almost everywhere we go, but, unfortunately, we are seeing fewer and fewer of them each year. …