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Spotted owl (Strix occidentalis), North Cascades National Park, 2015.

As a denizen of mature coniferous forests, this little owl has been at the center of debates between those for and those against logging in the Pacific Northwest for years! This owl is an indicator species, meaning this owl is characteristic of old growth forests. What affect will logging old growth forests have on this species? It's of importance to note that individual spotted owls may not actually breed every year. Some even forgo breeding for periods of up to six years! The news isn't all bad, though. While survival of juvenile owls is fairly low, adult survival is quite high. They may even live to be 17 years old in the wild. North Cascades National Parks perform nest watches: Park biologists won't disturb the northern spotted owl pair by continuously monitoring them but they will quietly check back periodically to find out if owlets appear anywhere near the nest. Watch the park website during summer for updates on these rare and special North Cascade residents!

U.S. National Park Service

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North Cascades National Park, Code: NOCA

National Park Service Facebook Photos

Title: North Cascades National Park
URL: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCascadesNationalPark?fref=ts

20150511

05/11/2015

Organization: North Cascades National Park
Address: 810 South Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

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