Northern Spotted Owl on the Verge of Extinction Directly Related to Climate!

Because it requires old-growth forest, this owl has been at the center of fierce controversy between conservationists and the logging industry in the Pacific Northwest. The owl itself seems anything but fierce: it has a gentle look, and it preys mostly on small mammals inside the forest. Its deep hooting calls carry far on still nights, especially in southwestern canyons where they may echo for more than a mile. Found on their daytime roosts, Spotted Owls may allow close approach.

(According to the Associated Press) In an effort to prevent the extinction of the endangered spotted owl, U.S. wildlife officials have adopted a plan to send trained marksmen into the dense forests of the West Coast to eliminate nearly half a million barred owls that are displacing their smaller relatives. A recent study has indicated that the effects of climate change are driving a significant migration of barred owls to the Northwest.

Research indicated that the combination of suitable core area habitat, Barred Owl presence, and edge habitat had additive negative effects on fecundity, which refers to the birth rates and survival of young. The study revealed a consistent negative impact of Barred Owl presence on the apparent survival of Spotted Owls in the majority of the study areas. While there were limited significant effects of habitat on survival at the study area level, climate variables emerged as key factors in most cases. Specifically, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) being in a warming phase and a negative Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), indicative of El Niño events, were associated with higher Spotted Owl survival rates across all study areas.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service strategy released Wednesday is meant to prop up declining spotted owl populations in Oregon, Washington state and California. The Associated Press obtained details in advance.

Documents released by the agency show up to about 450,000 barred owls would be shot over three decades after the birds from the eastern U.S. encroached into the West Coast territory of two owls: northern spotted owls and California spotted owls. The smaller spotted owls have been unable to compete with the invaders, which have large broods and need less room to survive than spotted owls.