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Awards


Reader's Digest 100 Best Award

As part of its America's 100 Best annual awards, Reader's Digest has named Defenders of Wildlife the "Best Wildlife Charity" for Defenders' innovative programs.


Reader's Digest writes:

"Do you love animals - even the kind with big, sharp, scary teeth? Do you cherish the idea of an America where the buffalo roam - accompanied by wolves, coyotes and mountain lions? Then here's the charity for you.

Defenders of Wildlife has several programs to help reintroduce predators in the West by transferring the economic costs from ranchers to the (mostly) city folk who like the concept of truly wild wilderness. Ranchers can be reimbursed the fair-market value of sheep or cattle killed by wolves or grizzly bears. The group also provides subsidies for dogs to guard flocks."

Read about America's 100 Best in the May 2005 issue of Reader's Digest.


Worth Magazine's 100 Best Charities

Worth magazine has named Defenders of Wildlife as one of its 100 best charities.

"When ranchers wanted to wipe out the wolves and grizzlies threatening their herds, this group started trusts to pay full price for any lost livestock," the magazine writes in praise of Defenders. "Few claims were ever made, and the animals were spared.

That's Defenders: an ingenious blend of education, policy analysis, advocacy, and litigation to protect wild animals and their habitats."


Most Effective Action on Federal Policy

Defenders is the recipient of the Natural Resources Council of America's award for Most Effective Action on Federal Policy. 

Natural resource Council of America Logo

The award is based on our strong and effective advocacy in securing introduction of the Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act and winning its adoption by the House of Representatives.  The award recognizes our extensive educational materials including publications and public service announcements, our global warming and wildlife symposium and the mobilization of more than 48,000 activists in support of the legislation.

Thanks to our efforts and those of our dedicated activists a new, federal global warming and wildlife science center became law and was funded in December 2007.