Fish and Wildlife Service Provides New Pygmy-Owl Guidance for Landowners

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces updated guidance for landowners planning to clear vegetation from land that may be occupied by cactus ferruginous pygmy-owls. South-central Arizona has been mapped into three zones based upon probability of use by owls and the Service is recommending varying degrees of precaution be applied in each zone before private landowners clear vegetation that could support owls. The guidance is designed principally to assist private landowners concerned that their development projects might violate the Endangered Species Act by harming an owl.