Dear Defender of Wildlife,

Our most vulnerable wildlife need your help to make sure Congress doesn’t abandon them!

Congress is currently working to determine next year’s funding levels for the Endangered Species Act (ESA), America’s bedrock law for saving imperiled species.

That means that those species could get the funds they need to survive and recover – or Congress could leave them high and dry, with grossly inadequate recovery funding.

PROTECT WILDLIFE: Tell your elected representatives to support increased funding for ESA programs and to oppose any anti-wildlife riders!

Congress is already setting the budget for the next fiscal year. In the past, they’ve chronically underfunded the ESA, leaving wildlife in danger without the resources needed to protect them.

Data shows that fully funding the ESA is critically important if we are to save imperiled wildlife and wild places.

We’re also tracking so-called "poison pill riders", including language that blocks the listing of the imperiled greater sage-grouse, that are being attached to these funding bills. If the sage-grouse rider is included, the Fish and Wildlife Service will be unable to apply ESA protections to the bird if needed.

We need to fully fund the ESA to protect wildlife - and we need to do it without letting toxic riders harm even more wildlife!

With about 1 million species currently at risk of extinction worldwide, we need strong measures now more than ever to preserve our wildlife.

Please join wildlife advocates across the country in holding our elected officials responsible for protecting our natural legacy. The future of wildlife and our wild world is at stake!

Take a moment to make sure your elected officials do the right thing and give our wildlife the protections they deserve!

Thanks for all you do.

Sincerely,

Robert Dewey Vice President, Government Relations and External Affairs Defenders of Wildlife