Revised Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina)

The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) (spotted owl) inhabits

structurally complex forests from southwest British Columbia through the Cascade Mountains and coastal ranges in Washington, Oregon, and California, as far south as Marin County (Appendix A). After a

status review (USFWS 1990a), the spotted owl was listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as

threatened on June 26, 1990 (USFWS 1990b) because of widespread loss of spotted owl habitat across the

spotted owl’s range and the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms to conserve the spotted owl.

Past habitat loss and current habitat loss are also threats to the spotted owl, even though loss of

habitat due to timber harvest has been greatly reduced on Federal lands over the past two decades. Many populations of spotted owls continue to decline, especially in the northern parts of the subspecies’ range, even with extensive maintenance and restoration of spotted owl habitat in recent years. Managing

sufficient habitat for the spotted owl now and into the future is important for its recovery. However, it is becoming more evident that securing habitat alone will not recover the spotted owl. Based on the best available scientific information, competition from the barred owl (S. varia) poses a significant and complex threat to the spotted owl.