KS Wild and partners file suit against Trump administration to defend endangered wildlife
On July 14, 2026, the Trump administration took another shot at the Endangered Species Act (ESA), one of the nation’s bedrock environmental laws. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially overturned the longstanding definition of “harm” under the ESA. For over 50 years, “harm” to wildlife included habitat destruction, because removing habitat inherently harms the species that rely upon that habitat to survive. However, the administration’s new policy is that destroying species’ habitat does not cause harm to endangered species, opening up wildlife habitat to destructive activities like logging and mining.
We won’t let this stand. So KS Wild and our partners at Environmental Protection Information Center, Cascadia Wildlands, and Western Environmental Law Center filed suit to uphold the heart of the ESA. We are challenging this attack on wildlife habitat and asking the court to set aside the illegal decision to undermine a provision fundamental to the ESA’s effectiveness. Learn more on the EPIC website here. You can read our legal complaint here.
Northern spotted owl photo. Credit: Scott Carpenter
The ESA has directly prevented nearly 300 species from extinction and has helped many more recover enough to no longer require federal protections. This success stems from a longstanding bipartisan understanding: protecting wildlife habitat is essential for protecting wildlife itself. Spotted owls and fishers need old-growth forests for nesting. Salmon need cool, clean rivers for spawning. Pond turtles need healthy riparian forests for overwintering. These habitats are not optional if wildlife is to survive and thrive.
Our commitment to defending native wildlife doesn’t end with this effort. KS Wild will continue fighting for the flora and fauna that make the Klamath and Siskiyou mountain ranges so extraordinary.
This challenge is only one part of a broader effort to protect imperiled species. We recently submitted a notice of intent to sue, encouraging USFWS to finalize the “threatened” listing for the pond turtle. Our Last Chance timber sale litigation targets BLM logging that will harm Northern spotted owls and pond turtles. We have legally intervened to oppose the proposed reduction of spotted owl critical habitat. And we are preparing additional actions to secure protections for at risk species including Pacific fishers, Siskiyou Mountains salamanders, and coastal tailed frogs.
This work is only possible because of the unwavering support of our members – we thank you for standing with us through these challenging times. We will continue to provide updates as this lawsuit progresses. For the wild!