2. • Height: About 18 inches.
• Length: About 18 inches (wingspan of around 48
inches).
• Weight: 1-2 lbs; males smaller than females.
• The female incubates the eggs for 30 days. After
hatching, the female sits with her offspring for 8 to
10 days, eating food brought by the male owl.
• The young fledge acquires the necessary feathers
for flying about 34-36 days after hatching. They
make 2 to 3 eggs.
• The Northern Spotted Owl is dark-to-chestnut
brown in color and sports round or oval white
spots on its head, neck, back and under parts.
• Its flight feathers are also dark brown and
barred with light brown or white. They have
dark brown eyes.
3. • Northern Spotted Owls are typically found in old
growth forests of northern California and the
Pacific Northwest of the United States, as well as in
southern parts of British Columbia, Canada.
• Its nests are on high platforms and are in big trees.
• It nests in cavities and will use abandoned nests of
other species.
• The owls like tree canopies that are high and open
enough for them to fly between and underneath the
trees.
• They do not migrate.
• Spotted owls are very territorial.
• Each pair of owls needs a large amount of land for
hunting and nesting.
4. Northern Spotted Owls are primarily nocturnal hunters.
Spotted Owls are carnivores (meat-eaters).
They eat flying squirrels, wood rats, mice and other small
rodents. They are also known to eat birds, insects and reptiles.
They use a keen sense of sight to find prey in the dark (owls see
mostly in black and white). They also have an acute sense of
hearing which also helps in finding meals.
Owls are stealth hunters; they can easily sneak up on their prey
since their fluffy feathers give them almost silent flight.
5. The biggest threat to the Northern Spotted Owl is loss of old
growth forest habitat as a result of logging.
It is losing it's habitat because of logging and other people
needs. People are building houses that they “need” and the owl
is being kicked out of its own habitat.
Threats to the Spotted Owl are made even greater by natural
disasters, such as fire, volcanic eruptions and wind storms.
Since the owl is at the top of the food web, it has no major
predators and is not threatened by other animals.
6. We can help by donating to a wildlife donation center.
We can also try to stop forest fires, one spark can lead
to a whole fire.
Join an wildlife advocate group like Defenders of
Wildlife to help save endangered animals.
You can make a real difference for wildlife by calling or
sending messages to elected and regulatory officials.
Reach out in your community and educate and engage
others. You can host a party or other event with your
friends, family, and neighbors; participate in a public
meeting, or even pass a local resolution.
