How to Advocate for Endangered Species

bald-eagleRecess-itate Wildlife: Talk to your member of Congress about protecting endangered species

One of the most effective ways you can help to keep endangered and threatened species protected is to meet in-person with congressional staff or the members of Congress themselves. Recent surveys of Congressional staff have found that these face-to-face visits with constituents are highly valued and can often influence the way members of Congress vote.

Advocating in person is easier and more effective when you are prepared with relevant information in advance. Below you can find links and documents that you can download and print. 

Find your senators’ schedulers email or phone number to schedule a meeting.

Materials for you:

Sample meeting request form (ESC)
How to Lobby (ESC)
Endangered Species Act Talking Points
Meeting report back form (At the bottom of this page and downloadable to fill and mail/scan/fax/email)

Materials to potentially leave for Senator/Representative:

Anti-Endangered Species Act riders in the appropriations bills
Letter from 56 Groups Urging Opposition to Anti-ESA Riders in FY 17 Appropriations
Gray Wolf Factsheet 
 Greater Sage Grouse Factsheet
 Lesser Prairie Chicken Factsheet

Additional Resources:

• Poll Finds National Consensus on the Endangered Species Act (Courtesy Tulchin Research)
Index of Endangered Species Act Attacks in 114th Congress (Courtesy Defenders of Wildlife)
Politics of Extinction (Center for Biological Diversity report)
Additional ESA fact sheets and reports

Have you scheduled a meeting with a member of Congress? Please let us know here!

After your meeting, please provide feedback through the form below. You may also download the form and email it back to [email protected] or fill it out online here.