Essay On Spotted Owl

Introduction

The Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) is an endangered species that lives in the old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. This species is declinging in numbers drastically and has been listed on the ESA since 1990. The spotted owl is native to the Pacific Northwest. They are found in Southern parts of Columbia, North Western America, and California. As a result of declining habitat, there are fewer than 100 pairs of Northern spotted owls in British Columbia, Canada, 1,200 pairs in Oregon, 560 pairs in northern California and 500 pairs in the state of Washington. They are a small to medium owl with a very small range and very specific needs. Their breeding season is february till April and they only lay two or three eggs at

Since the decline of these fires that used to burn barred owls now have the chance to venture We are spending a lot of money to protect a species that is declining with or without barred owl intrusion. Duggar (2016) stated that we are spending 60 million for 30 years on the spotted owl project and 5 million for the removal of barred owls a total of 65 million to save one species that may or may not go extinct with or without barred owls. It has been noted that the spotted owl was declining before the introduction of the barred owl. So what is to say without then they would survive. Habitat restoration of old growth forests needs to be focused on first to protect the spotted owl. By doing so it will provide more space and possibly allow the two species to live cohesively USFWS (2016) says that about 60-88% of the spotted owls habitat is gone since early

Kelly et al. (2003) Writes in their paper, the author also mentions that the agencies need to realize that barred owls are a threat to spotted owls and are taking their habitat and food. The spotted owl and its subspecies are listed under the ESA this means that legally we have to help prevent anymore decline of the species from happening. Noon and Blakesley (2006) said that the monitoring done on spotted owls so far says there is still a decline even though their habitat is being protected therefore more needs to be done to prevent this culturally important species from going extinct. The Northern Spotted owl is an old growth forest obligate. Lande (1987) implies that extinction could happen with more reduction in old growth forests that are required for the spotted owl. This is meaning that more needs to be done to protect the spotted