FWS: Protect the California Spotted Owl

Wildlife advocates are seeking endangered species protection for the California spotted owl, who they believe will disappear if we don't act now to protect them and their habitat.

Both the Northern spotted owl and Mexican spotted owl were listed as threatened in the early 1990s, but despite facing similar threats, the California spotted owl is the only subspecies left without protection.

Today there are estimated to be fewer than 1,200 pairs remaining, who continue to face the threat of commercial logging in the old growth-forests they need to survive, along with post-fire "salvage" logging in burned forest where they hunt, in addition to other threats that range from competition with barred owls to rodenticide poisoning.

Despite the continued decline in their population and past efforts by conservationists to ensure their future survival, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has repeatedly failed to act – most recently denying them protection in 2006.

Now the Wild Nature Institute and the John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute are petitioning the FWS to list them, arguing that there has been almost a decade's worth of new information that points to a serious risk of extinction if things don't change.

Please sign the petition to show the FWS your support for granting federal protection to these California spotted owls before it's too late.

Photo Credit: Kameron Perensovich

As someone who is concerned with issues surrounding our nation's wildlife, I am writing to show my support for the recent petition filed by the Wild Nature Institute and the John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute seeking federal protection for the California spotted owl.

Despite clear signs that these owls are disappearing and repeated attempts by conservation and wildlife advocacy organizations to see them protected, the Fish and Wildlife Service has repeatedly failed to take meaningful actions that will ensure their future survival – most recently denying them protection in 2006.

Since then, as the petitioners note, almost a decade's worth of new studies have made it clear that these owls are in trouble, and that commercial logging in the old growth-forests they need to survive, along with post-fire "salvage" logging in burned forest where they hunt, is the biggest cause of their continued decline.

Additionally, aside from habitat degradation and destruction, they also face threats ranging from competition with barred owls and climate change to urban sprawl and rodenticide poisoning.

I sincerely hope your agency will act now to ensure the future survival of California spotted owls before it's too late.

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