Photo:Carla Lenihen
Who's to blame if it goes extinct?
Spotted owls: North America's Best Known Endangered Species
It is estimated that there are only about 3,600 pairs of northern Spotted Owls left in the world. They live in the oldgrowth forests along the west coast of North America, from California to southwestern B.C. In the U.S.A., where the Spotted Owl is listed as endangered and an "indicator species" for the overall health of the forest ecosystem, lengthy lawsuits and bitter public campaigns have ensued over how much Spotted Owl habitat to protect.
Only 33 pairs of Spotted Owls and 15 active nesting sites have been located in Canada-all in the Lower Mainland region of B.C. None have been found in forests less than 120 years old. Canada's Spotted Owls were designated an endangered species in 1986 by our national Committee on the Status of Endangered Species (COSEWIC).
Why are Spotted Owls endangered?
Only 30 percent of the Spotted Owl's original low elevation ancient (oldgrowth) forest habitat remains in B.C. In the United States, over 90 percent of the Spotted Owl's habitat has been logged. At the current rate of logging, all B.C.'s unprotected Spotted Owl habitat will be irreparably fragmented within five years. Neither Canada nor British Columbia has Endangered Species Legislation requiring the protection of endangered species and the habitats they need to survive.
Photo:Carla Lenihen
Most scientists say that, in order to survive, Canada's Spotted Owl need all their remaining habitat. This means protecting about 254,000 hectares of Lower Mainland forest lands--all the oldgrowth left in their range plus some additional second growth that will eventually mature to become a suitable owl home.
