ACT NOW: Save America's ocelots from border wall construction!

Dear folks, Fewer than 80 ocelots remain in the United States – and this fragile population could be doomed by proposed border wall construction along a stretch of the Rio Grande in southeastern Texas. Tell Congress now: Don’t pay for reckless border wall construction through priceless habitat! America’s ocelots live in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, where the famous river flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The region is a rare ecological junction of coastal, temperate, desert and subtropical habitats. At least fifteen threatened and endangered species depend on the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge for survival. Now, President Trump is pressing Congress to provide billions of dollars for additional border barrier construction through this delicate habitat. And if he gets his way, vulnerable animals could face a slew of nightmare scenarios. PLEASE SPEAK UP TODAY! TAKE ACTION >> When the Rio Grande rises, animals living on the north bank could be pinned against the new concrete wall and steel bollards and drown. During dry summers, additional wall could cut animals off from reaching the water they need to survive. And ocelots in the U.S. could be permanently cut off from those south of the wall – dashing hopes of connecting the U.S. and Mexico populations. The wall could even affect a crucial nesting beach for the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, the most critically endangered sea turtle in the world. Act now: Tell Congress not to waste taxpayer money destroying ocelot habitat with additional border barrier construction. Congress must pass a bill to fund the government before the end of the year, and they’re scrambling to secure billions of taxpayer dollars in additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security to extend President Trump’s border wall. These decision-makers are not considering the effects of the wall on vulnerable wildlife and communities. But that’s why we’re here. The need to preserve our ecosystems and irreplaceable species is bigger than politics. Wildlife is counting on us to make sure that Congress knows that. Please join us in standing up for border wildlife while we still can. Sign our petition today: Tell Congress not to fund this ecologically disastrous construction! Thank you for all you do. Sincerely, Robert Dewey Vice President, Government Relations & External Affairs  Defenders of Wildlife