Giving Back to Wildlife
Defenders of Wildlife is committed to reducing the conflict between humans and wildlife. And coexistence starts with us — the people in that equation. We believe that our human systems need to adapt to accommodate and work with natural ecosystems while we are working towards our conservation goals and increasing populations of endangered species.
Ahead of Giving Tuesday, we would like to share some of the ways that your donations help our work to protect and create a better environment for our imperiled wildlife across the country. Through habitat protection, technology, legislation, and education of corporations, citizens, and governments, Defenders of Wildlife is fighting to change negative attitudes towards wildlife and to prove that there are simple fixes that allow humans and wildlife to coexist.
In northeastern Washington State, we are working with partners in bear country to place food storage lockers in campsites. By also providing bear ID cards to help distinguish between grizzly bears and black bears, we are helping people responsibly enjoy the outdoors by being bear aware.
In Alaska, we are working on the front lines through aerial monitoring to study and map the locations of dens and mothers with cubs as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Polar Bear Recovery Team.
In the Midwest, we are educating communities on techniques to protect prairie dog habitat and we have purchased and installed several miles of solar-powered portable electric fencing along buffer areas to the habitats.
In Florida, we are promoting the construction of wildlife crossings and fighting for protection of important habitat for the Florida panther as over 20 panthers have been struck and killed by cars in 2017 alone.
In the Southwest, we offer technical and financial assistance to landowners willing to use proven nonlethal methods of deterrence and we are determined to help the public share the land with wolves and dispel the myths and misconceptions that nearly silenced Mexican gray wolves for good.
Pallid sturgeon is facing extinction as the most endangered fish, and we are advocating for dam removals, giving pallid sturgeon a chance to successfully reproduce and also installing a pumping system to ensure water is still delivered to the communities who need it.
In California, we work to protect the threatened Agassiz’s desert tortoise and have been successful with our partners to get the California Department of Transportation to install exclusion fencing along the southern reaches of U.S. Highway 395 and State Route 58, which have eliminated most tortoise mortality associated with vehicle travel on these highways, though more is still needed.
The Puget Sound and southern resident orcas are facing a tough battle against pollution and we are working with our partners to install more large-scale public raingardens in parks, schools and other public places which will allow our urban and coastal communities to coexist with the orcas that live just off the shore.
The North Atlantic right whales have had record-breaking mortality, and we have been working with the American and Canadian governments and agencies to call for fishing gear modifications to prevent entanglements and other protocols to help save this marine mammal from extinction.
Along the Gulf coast, we have been educating homeowners and tourists about ways to protect beaches and retrofit lights on buildings, as artificial lights often discourage females from nesting on the adjacent beach or disorient hatchlings that are supposed to head out to sea.
As our field staff are hard at work to save and protect these species through coexistence, they also face an unknown future as anti-wildlife policies are becoming laws through this new Congress. It is because of supporters like you, that we are able to do our work — from coexistence projects in the field to advocating for imperiled species in Washington, DC.
Mark your calendars! Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a week away. Defenders is counting on YOU to help make this year’s campaign our most successful yet! Facebook and PayPal are matching donations on Facebook for a total of up to $7 million dollars. You can help us make a difference by making a donation or creating a fundraiser on Nov 27th! Check our Facebook page first thing in the morning for instructions.
Thank you!
