Help Save the Northern Spotted Owl

tags: , , ,

Northern Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis caurina.

Image: HRF [larger]

The Northern subspecies of the Spotted Owl is in trouble and needs your help. This ambassador of our old-growth forests is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and is now facing two new and serious threats, both presented by the US Fish and Wildlife Agency, which is supposed to protect our nation's wildlife.

First, the Draft Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan, proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, threatens to undermine years of hard-won protection of the owl and its habitat. The plan is a result of political interference by a Washington D.C. Oversight Committee consisting of high ranking officials from the Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture who overruled agency scientists in favor of short-sighted political agendas. This proposed plan is not based on the scientific data and could further threaten the owl population if implemented. The agency needs to produce a revised plan that is based on what is best for the owl instead of what's best for a few selfish individuals and corporate whores. This plan is open for public comment until August 24. You can help by taking action today.

Protect the Northern Spotted Owl NOW by making your voice heard on both the Draft Recovery Plan and on another proposal designed to reduce critical habitat for this owl species.

This second proposal is also written by the Fish and Wildlife Service. It promises to eliminate 1.5 million acres of the owl's Critical Habitat that is crucial to the species' recovery. The foundation of this proposal is based on faulty and unscientific data from the draft recovery plan. A public comment period is open on this proposal until August 13.

More like this

tags: northern spotted owl, barred owl, old growth forests, logging Nothern Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis caurina. Image: HRF [larger] Despite the fact that President Clinton set aside 7 million acres of forest for owl habitat, the northern spotted owl population is still peril. So the…
Some good news on endangered species, for a change (via Dateline Earth): the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will retain existing critical habitat currently designated under the Endangered Species Act for marbled murrelet populations on the West Coast. This is a reversal from the Bush…
tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter Male Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor, photographed in June on the Konza Prairie (this also is my screensaver). Also known as "bullbats", apparently from their habit of swooping around cattle in pastures to pick off the…
Forest Service May Move to Interior - washingtonpost.com: Among some lawmakers who hold the purse strings, there is a belief that the U.S. Forest Service is out of place. The 103-year-old agency, which manages 193 million acres of forests and grasslands, is part of the Department of Agriculture.…

I am concerned about any type of logging or any other activity that would affect old growth forests in our country. The Spotted Owl uses this habitat for its home, as well as countless other wildlife. Harming this habitat in any way would be a SERIOUS mistake.

By Jane Barnette (not verified) on 12 Aug 2007 #permalink

Surely by now it must be known that breaking up what is left of old growth forests is mistaken. Lets leave something for those that follow~!!

By G. Ross Murphy,M.D. (not verified) on 13 Aug 2007 #permalink

k guys, I just spent the am writing to the Dems on the Interior Committee.. What a group!
Leahy from Vt. Byrd fron (there blowing up the tops of yourmountians'! The are several 'blue dog Democrats too. Brain-fart Johnson,LA Senator Mary L.
The Republicans are mostly westerns including Craig ID. and Stevens AK. No sense in checking unless you live in the state.
This is one of BushCo's last big gifts to the Timber Industry..
Are the biologists ready to man t

By judyroth@mac.com (not verified) on 13 Aug 2007 #permalink

What is the "gist" of the recovery plan - specifically those parts you find to be "bad" - that you are asking us to oppose? How is THIS plan any different from past such plan(s) for the owls? Thanks in advance.

I want to save the northern spotted owl I really love all the types of owls out there on this earth.

By james ray boheler (not verified) on 14 Aug 2007 #permalink