ACTION: Don't let Trump wall off wildlife!

Be a Voice for Wildlife in the Borderlands!

Dear folks, The Trump administration’s smoke and mirrors aren’t fooling anyone. The administration’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is hell bent on building a destructive wall straight through essential wildlife habitat. Besides the potential social and economic damage this wall would cause, countless species will lose their homes – and endangered ocelots and jaguarundis simply can’t handle the loss. Take action to stop this destructive wall. The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is home to no less than eight species that are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and more than 400 bird species and 300 butterfly species can be found there. But CBP is trying to build a 38-foot-high wall of concrete and steel through this amazing habitat – and they’re being incredibly secretive about the whole process. Instead of requesting input from stakeholders in a transparent way, they are soliciting "public comment" by sending private letters to select groups. Unfortunately for them, Defenders got one of those letters – and we are making sure YOU have the chance to weigh in. Demand the administration get input from the community by holding public forums on border wall expansion. In the proposed expansion, 60 miles of border wall would cut through crucial imperiled wildlife habitat in the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the National Butterfly Center and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. These areas provide critical corridor links between ocelot and jaguarundi habitat along the Rio Grande and into Mexico. Habitat loss and fragmentation are the main reasons that these wild cats are endangered, so building a wall through essential habitat will drive them closer to extinction. With fewer than 50 ocelots left in the United States and the number of jaguarundis unknown, these refuges may be their last hope for recovery in the US. Be a voice for wildlife! Tell CBP the public deserves to be heard! CBP’s "public comment process" is a sad attempt to make it appear as though they are seeking public comment. But they are not taking steps to make sure the public is aware of their request! This is just one more reminder of the administration’s indifference to the concerns of the public and the health of our wildlife and wild places. Help us stop this destructive wall from blocking imperiled species’ recovery for good. Thank you for all you do for wildlife. Sincerely, Bryan Bird Southwest Program Director Defenders of Wildlife

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