This animal’s story is a fight for survival.

We’re sending an SOS for all endangered wildlife. Pitch in right now to have your donation MATCHED! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Black-footed ferret in burrow © Laura Romin & Larry Dalton/Alamy Stock Photo]( Defender, Gone. Forever. It seemed like the black-footed ferret was extinct. As farmers and ranchers poisoned and plowed the land in an attempt to eradicate prairie dogs and their tunnels, they also wreaked havoc on black-footed ferrets. An animal that once numbered in the thousands, ranging from Canada to Mexico, was simply gone. [DONATE: SAVE OUR SPECIES RESPONSE FUND]( Then, in 1981, a small population was rediscovered – and a non-stop fight for survival was launched that continues to this day, with the support of defenders like you. Only about 400 critically endangered black-footed ferrets still remain in the wild. [Donate to our emergency Save Our Species Fund, and your gift will be matched 3X, up to $50,000, to fight for endangered species!]( Fighting extinction requires extraordinary measures. The Endangered Species Act was made for moments like these. But despite being one of our nation’s most successful laws for protecting wildlife, it is facing unrelenting attacks from anti-wildlife extremists who are introducing bills that attack the ESA at a pace of more than one a week. It is outrageous – but we won’t back down. Defenders is on the frontlines, fighting to save black-footed ferrets and other imperiled species from the abyss of extinction. We’re working non-stop on the ground, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill. But this is a race against time – because we know the extinction crisis is here. [That’s why we’re sending an urgent SOS for wildlife. May 17 is Endangered Species Day. Will you give now to our emergency Save Our Species Response Fund?]( The story of the black-footed ferret is a warning and a cause for hope. Extinction is forever, but endangered doesn’t have to be. Sincerely, Jamie Rappaport Clark CEO and President Defenders of Wildlife [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( Defenders of Wildlife 1130 17th Street NW • Washington, DC 20036 defenders.org --------------------------------------------------------------- Photo credit: Black-footed ferret © Laura Romin & Larry Dalton/Alamy Stock Photo This email was sent to {EMAIL} Please do not respond to this email. [Unsubscribe here]( or update your preferences [here!]( [supporter]