Wild Child(ren)

Thousands of Defenders supporters took our April Wild Child Earth Day Pledge to take a child out to nature. Nearly 200 people from 38 states -- plus Germany and Australia -- wrote in to tell us about their adventures!

So many people wrote about their favorite memories of being outdoors and favorite places that we found it hard to pick just one to feature in eNews.

See the top stories and photos from our April Wild Child Earth Day Pledge!

Scary Times for Bats

North America’s bats are in trouble. A mysterious disease called white-nose syndrome has already claimed the lives of an estimated one million of these often misunderstood flying mammals. The spread of this terrible disease shows no sign of slowing, with white-nose syndrome killing nearly 100% of the bats at some hibernating sites.

To save our bats from this emerging disease, Defenders of Wildlife is calling on Congress for emergency action.

Lend your voice to the fight to save our bats. Urge your U.S. Representative to support critical research funding to fight White Nose Syndrome and protect America’s bats.

Muley's Burden

Explorers Lewis and Clark named mule deer for its long mule-like lobes, but these animals are nothing like their stubborn cousins. Once one of the most abundant animals roaming the West, mule deer populations today face increasing competition with people for room to live.

Public lands like the Upper Green River Valley near Pinedale, Wyoming have been tapped with thousands of wells to drain the area of its vast stores of natural gas leaving less space for the “muleys.” Since 2002, mule deer in the Pinedale Anticline area have suffered tremendous losses, declining by a staggering 30 percent.

Through our Your Lands, Your Wildlife campaign, Defenders and our conservation partners are working to safeguard mule deer and other wildlife that depend on our public lands for survival.

Visit our website to see an interactive map highlighting the struggles of mule deer and other wildlife on our public lands.

Back in Court for Wolves
Defenders is back in court to safeguard wolves in the Northern Rockies and Greater Yellowstone region after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar adopted a Bush-era rule lifting protections in the region. The rule would allows more than two-thirds of the region's wolves to be killed before federal officials would step in to restore protections.

Meanwhile, Defenders is working on the ground with ranchers and others to ensure these wolves stay alive.
>>Watch our latest video and support our wolf-saving work.

Poor Protections for Polar Bears
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar let stand a Bush-era rule that weakens protections for threatened polar bears, despite legislation passed by Congress earlier this year -- thanks to more than 75,000 messages from Defenders supporters -- that allowed him to quickly provide better protections for these struggling white bears. Defenders will continue to challenge the weak polar bear protections in court.
>>Learn More

Court Rules for Horned Lizard
A federal court ruled in favor of the struggling flat-tailed horned lizard, telling the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to reconsider its decision to deny protections for the desert reptile. The flat-tailed horned lizard is struggling with habitat loss due to sprawl and needs urgent protection to survive. The courts have told FWS twice before to protect the lizard. “We’re hoping the third time is the charm,” said Defenders’ attorney Kara Gillon. “These lizards are running out of time.”
>> Learn More

Howlin' Town

When residents were looking to diversify the economy of Thompson, Manitoba in Canada, they turned to the wolf -- a bit of Canis lupus stimulus. This bustling city, nestled in Canada’s boreal forest, has long relied on mining as a key part of its economy. Thompson hopes to follow the lead of nearby Churchill, which has billed itself as a destination for polar bear and beluga whale watching.

The city has already begun promoting itself as a wolf-based tourist destination by launching the Spirit Way -- a 2 kilometer (1.24 mile) recreation path complete with decorated wolf sculptures painted by various artists, an enormous wolf mural and other artwork. As part of a long-term strategy to become the “Wolf Capital of Canada,” they hope to soon offer guided trips to watch wild wolves in the local area and become a hub for wolf research, education and conferences on these magnificent animals.

This transformation of a mining city into a wildlife-based tourist destination is being spearheaded by an all-volunteer committee.

“The City of Thompson turns 40 next year,” said volunteer project coordinator Volker Beckman. “And we’re working to change our city from a ‘northern mining town’ into a more conservation-minded, green community.”

And we couldn’t think of a better animal to help, than the wolf!

Find out more about Thompson and take a virtual walk on the Spirit Way.