Northern spotted owl to stay on threatened species list, but isn't endangered, government says

AP ^ | 11/18/4 | JEFF BARNARD

[SmithL]

GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- The northern spotted owl, the bird at the center of the Pacific Northwest logging wars, will stay on the threatened species list, the government said Thursday.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service review said the spotted owl is still declining in numbers because of wildfires, logging on private land, the West Nile virus and the loss of territory to a more aggressive species, the barred owl.

The spotted owl has been listed as threatened since 1990. To help save it, the government in 1994 cut logging by more than 80 percent in the Northwest's national forests.

The wildlife service arranged for an outside review of the owl's status in response to a forest industry lawsuit in 2003.

The review said previous research found that the spotted owl population declined by about 3.7 percent per year from 1985 to 2003, most dramatically in Washington state. The overall population has not been estimated.

The review concluded the owl is not endangered, a more dire condition requiring greater effort to keep a species from becoming extinct.

[SmithL]

It's not just for breakfast, anymore.

[JediForce]

Off the list and on to the menu ? :-)

[pissant]

Tastes just like condor.

[ProudVet77]

The biggest reason for the Northwest logging wars had nothing to do with the spotted owl. It was because the Senate Majority leader, Mitchell was from Maine. He wanted the lumber market for his state. Period.

[muawiyah]

Isn't the barred owl the exact same species as the spotted owl?

Like aren't these critters, from the different groups, sometimes caught, in the open, in daylight, doing it?

And then the eggs hatch out one or the other? That's the same species you know!

[ConservativeMan55]

"I'm deeply saddened. Because I had northern owl for breakfast this morning."

[michaelbfree]

c'mon barred owl, finish it off so we can log again

[ConservativeMan55]

I LOVE YOUR TAGLINE!

[Smacky]

Now we have to start worrying about the endangered Western American Logger.

[Cobra64]

It's more of a brunch meal. Bloody Marys and such.

[JediForce]

Thank you....it has a Lexington and Concord kind of ring to it. Feel free to use the expression at your discretion.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Hahahahaa, and we go great with brewski!

Seriously, I told my friend that should he decide to sign up for this site, he should use "the Desert Tortoise" for a name.

[crazyhorse691]

I remember what an old logger in Alsea, Oregon told me; "If teens can fornicate in the back of a vw, how come this owl needs 35,000 acres?". It was not a popular decision to list the owl and it destroyed a lot of the mills and small towns. Liberals were running around telling unemployed loggers to work at McDonalds. Oregon is still paying for the owls and the Liberals.

[ConservativeMan55]

Thanks I will!

[festus]

Not endangered anymore ? Heck I guess I'll have to switch to peringon falcon.

[Ptarmigan]

I am afraid if this owl starts going through a population boom, I will be scared. They like to eat ptarmigans.

[ElkGroveDan]

[nothingnew]

...the West Nile virus...

Whaaa?

FMCDH(BITS)

[UnklGene]

Northern Spotted Owl