RESEARCHERS FIND PYGMY-OWL POPULATIONS SOUTH OF THE BORDER

The first results of a two-year U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) funded survey of cactus ferruginous pygmy-owls located approximately 280 pygmy-owls in the Mexican state of Sonora which abuts Arizona. Previously, the pygmy-owl was considered rare or absent in Mexico within 150 miles of the U.S. border.

"These data indicate that pygmy-owls are indeed in northern Sonora, which is good news for the recovery of the owl in Arizona," said Nancy Kaufman, Director of the Service