Defenders in Action: Working with Lawmakers and Regulators

In addition to our on-the-ground efforts, Defenders of Wildlife has been instrumental in shaping laws, policies and programs that promote coexistence efforts.

We have:

• Secured federal and state funding for nonlethal approaches to reducing conflicts with wildlife. For example, we supported Montana Senator Jon Tester’s  Wolf Livestock Loss Mitigation Act, which provided compensation for livestock depredation and funding for nonlethal deterrents.
• Secured support for research to determine the level of predation on calves by Florida panthers to help develop compensation and incentive programs.
• Worked with Washington and Oregon to develop scientifically sound state management plans and helped them to develop robust compensation and coexistence programs.
• Served on stakeholder groups, like the Southwest’s Mexican Wolf Interdiction Stakeholder Council, to help guide state and federal management planning about coexisting with wildlife.
• Provided training in nonlethal wildlife deterrents and field investigation techniques for government wildlife managers.
• Worked with wildlife agencies to encourage county commissions to contract with waste disposal companies that use bear-proof containers.
• Advocated for wildlife-friendly transportation planning to prevent collisions and protect important habitat. For example, the Florida Department of Transportation installed solar-powered sensors that alert motorists when large animals are close to the road to reduce Florida panther mortalities on highways.