"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the northern spotted owl deserves an upgrade to “endangered” status. The agency passed on its chance to do so and is now cutting its protected habitat by millions of acres."
"The Trump administration has cut designated critical habitat for the northern spotted owl by millions of acres in Oregon, Washington and California.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday that it would remove 3.4 million acres of critical habitat protections for the bird, including all of what’s known as the O&C Lands, which is big timber territory in Western Oregon.
It’s the latest jab at the northern spotted owl on the president’s way out the door.
The spotted owl is currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Fish and Wildlife Service has said the bird warrants uplisting to “endangered” because of continued population declines. The spotted owl population decreased approximately 3.8% annually rangewide from 1985 to 2013."
Bradley W. Parks reports for Oregon Public Broadcasting January 13, 2021.
SEE ALSO:
"Trump Opens Habitat of a Threatened Owl to Timber Harvesting" (New York Times)
"Trump Administration Slashes Imperiled Spotted Owls’ Habitat" (AP)
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