Behold: the majestic Strix Occidentalis Caurina, or Northern Spotted Owl. Peacefully they live, amongst the coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest, where they are free to stretch their impressive wings and roam in search of true love and delicious flying squirrels. Sadly, between regular deforestation and nasty territorial clashes with their mustachioed evil twin the Barred Owl, current reports indicate that the Spotted Owl population is down to around 500 pairs in Canada and just over two thousand pair in the United States, placing the birds on the "threatened" section of the endangered species list. It only seems natural that, given the circumstances, one would want to do everything they can to protect them. Who could look into the eyes of these noble creatures and proceed to destroy their homes?

Who, indeed.

The Bush administration today proposed cutting 1.5 million acres from Northwest forests considered critical to the survival of the northern spotted owl, reopening the 1990s battle between timber production and wildlife habitat on public lands.

In 1992, 6.9 million acres were designated as "critical habitat" for the owls, but the new proposal will cut this back to 5.4. One could argue that 5.4 million acres is still a lot of land, but with animals as wildly territorial as the Spotted Owl, it's like bulldozing your home and saying "Oh, well, there are other houses in the world, right?" The owls are Arthur Dent, and the White House Administration wants to build a timber highway.

There is also the aforementioned problem of the Barred Owls, which the VP of the American Forest Resource Council claims to be a much bigger threat than loss of trees. These feisty birds have been expanding their previously-more-easterly terrain by fighting tooth-and-nail with their stodgier brethren and winning. Not to worry, however: our Most Clever Administration does have something in mind for this particular problem, as well. Liberating the Spotted Owls, Texas style.

The proposal is based on a new draft recovery plan that designates areas critical to the owl's recovery and calls for killing some barred owls that have taken over spotted owl habitat, the Fish and Wildlife Service said. It also depends on better technology to map forests favored by owls and better understanding of what sorts of forests owls favor.

Yep, why focus on saving the one when it's so much easier to kill the other? Yipee-ki-yay, owly motherfuckers! Welcome to Hell.

But really, as one could probably guess, it's not about the owls at all so much as the Pacific Northwest logging industry, currently in distress and in need of a revival. It's a battle that's been going on for decades now, and the point of the matter is that industry is a lot more stimulating for our national economy than birds. Which is a shame, because birds are more fun, but there you have it.

Dominick DellaSala, director of the National Center for Conservation and Policy and a member of the spotted owl recovery team...noted that some of the biggest pieces of critical habitat removed from the new proposal are on U.S. Bureau of Land Management land in Western Oregon, where the agency is working on a major new plan to boost timber production.

[...] After two decades of the heaviest logging ever on Northwest national forests, once the nation's top timber producing region, conservation groups won lawsuits demanding the U.S. Forest Service and BLM obey their own regulations and protect habitat for the spotted owl.

The 1994 Northwest Forest Plan cut timber production on national forests in Washington, Oregon and Northern California by more than 80 percent to protect owl and salmon habitat, contributing to mill closures and job losses that were particularly painful in rural areas with no other industry. The plan served as a de facto recovery plan until a new one was drafted this year.

Oh, really? Of course, really. It's a long road yet for our plucky little owl friends. They're not full-blown "endangered" yet; hopefully some kind of compromise can be reached soon enough to ensure it stays that way.

_DictionaryGirl_ thinks picking on owls is like punching a kid with glasses on: rude and entirely uncalled for. Suffice it to say, she feels quite a connection with her round-eyed feathered friends.

aldoushuxley

USA

November 2005

JUN 14, 2007 02:19 AM

Ha Ha you guys in the crappy lower forty eight states have it really tough. With your constantly diminishing forests and wild life. I am glad I am from the best and most beautiful state. Yep, it's beauty will be around long after your crappy ass states are paved over, and all you'll have left are pictures in museums. By the way I from Alaska, I find it sad you have to deal with this type of reality where you are from. I have to tell you though, environmental publicity is almost always blown way out of proportion. I have been to Valdez, the famed sight of the worst oil spill ever. It was a load of crap, greenies need to get out of there one room apartments and actually go see the world we live in. Being from Alaska I naturally hate greenies, it's like dog shit on a clean carpet, they do not belong there.

Short

Sacramento, CA

September 2005

JUN 14, 2007 02:22 AM

aldushuxley said:
Ha Ha you guys in the crappy lower forty eight states have it really tough. With your constantly diminishing forests and wild life. I am glad I am from the best and most beautiful state. Yep, it's beauty will be around long after your crappy ass states are paved over, and all you'll have left are pictures in museums. By the way I from Alaska, I find it sad you have to deal with this type of reality where you are from. I have to tell you though, environmental publicity is almost always blown way out of proportion. I have been to Valdez, the famed sight of the worst oil spill ever. It was a load of crap, greenies need to get out of there one room apartments and actually go see the world we live in. Being from Alaska I naturally hate greenies, it's like dog shit on a clean carpet, they do not belong there.

what?

yeahrightjosue

Boston, MA

February 2007

JUN 14, 2007 02:23 AM

Leave it to bush to piss off the American Forest Resource Council.

I think he just likes to piss people off, that's all.
But really, you can't do anything at all today without pissing someone off.
I like owls though.
They're harmlesss.
And they make funny noises.

oh, and owl pellets.
It's like a fucking gold mine!
::sigh:: I miss grade school now.

ckdexterhaven

USA

December 2005

JUN 14, 2007 02:36 AM

RudieCantFail

Baton Rouge, LA

January 2006

JUN 14, 2007 02:38 AM