The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has released a draft recovery plan for the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl that recommends strategies for conserving the endangered bird that was once common in southern to central Arizona. Comments on the plan will be accepted until April 9.
A 37-member team developed the draft. Seven scientists from academia, federal and state agencies, species experts and raptor biologists were the principals in prescribing recovery steps. An Implementation Group, comprising twenty-nine people, served as a sounding board and ensured suggested activities are realistic and executable. The larger group included representatives of local affected parties, tribal and state agencies, counties, municipalities and special interest groups (environmental, development, mining, ranching, and property rights).
"The Recovery Team has done an exceptional job of distilling what is known of the owl and identifying what still needs to be known," said Dale Hall, Director of the Service
