The wild B.C. spotted owl population jumped up this summer from just one to four.
The population B次元官网网址渆xplosionB次元官网网址� is thanks to a release that took place in Spuzzum in August, deep in the Fraser Canyon. Deemed as an historic milestone for conservation, it was the result of a partnership between the provincial Spotted Owl Breeding and Release Program and Spuzzum First Nation.
B次元官网网址淚n 1971, a Sp么B次元官网网址檢锚m matriarch was called upon by our Ancestors to tell the story of our much-loved relatives, the skel煤le蓙, otherwise known as the Northern Spotted Owl (as named by the settlers of Canada),B次元官网网址� said Chief James Hobart of the Spuzzum Nation in a press release. B次元官网网址淥ur messengers are extremely powerful beings: they are the messengers to our spirit world and of our physical world. They are species that are indicative of the health of an environment. Our matriarch HromeB次元官网网址橳ikB次元官网网址橧nquakosenB次元官网网址檚 artistic documentation of skel煤le蓙 was instrumental in the preservation of our old growths and the work we are continuing with today for Skel煤le蓙B次元官网网址檚 return into the wild.B次元官网网址�
The release, which is a significant step towards an eventual self-sustaining population in B.C., was a carefully planned government-to-government process that incorporated Indigenous knowledge and guidance from Hobart. A detailed assessment of the birdsB次元官网网址� readiness was also necessary for their important move, which would see their return to Spuzzum.
The owls were first introduced into protected forests in the Anderson Wildlife Habitat Area and the Spuzzum Wildlife Habitat Area in the Fraser Canyon in early August. Later, they were moved to aviaries in the forest and fed for several days to allow them to get used to hunting in their traditional environment. Eventually, the aviaries were opened so the owls could leave and hunt on their own.
B次元官网网址淲e are doing everything we can to help spotted owls recover in B.C., including running the worldB次元官网网址檚 only spotted owl breeding and release program for this critically endangered species,B次元官网网址� said Josie Osborne, Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship in the press release. B次元官网网址淒uring my visit to the Langley breeding facility in July, I was incredibly impressed by the deep commitment of everyone involved in helping these rare and beautiful birds achieve a self-sustaining population.B次元官网网址�
A precondition of the release was the development of feeding skills B次元官网网址� the owls needed to demonstrate their ability to capture live prey and maintain a stable body weight. So far, the owls have been successful in hunting and catching their own live prey. The ministry staff also assessed the birdsB次元官网网址� health, confirmed that there were no active wildfires in the area, and collaborated with Hobart to ensure that there were no competing owl species, prior to release.
The province has worked with the First Nations in B.C. to protect more than 280,000 hectares of spotted owl habitat in the Cascade region under the Spotted Owl Management Plan B次元官网网址� a territory that can support 250 owls. Ministry staff are prepared to help the owls, such as providing supplemental feeding. Spuzzum Nation land guardians and members are also providing support with their knowledge of the health and well-being of the land.
B次元官网网址淲hat I was most proud of is that weB次元官网网址檙e not sitting here doing nothing, weB次元官网网址檙e doing something. If we make a mistake, we are making a mistake falling forward,B次元官网网址� said Hobart. B次元官网网址淚 am most excited about hearing back a year from now, or even two months from now, the sounds our Skel煤le蓙B次元官网网址檚 calling in their own woods and realizing they have found their way home, have found themselvesB次元官网网址hen that next step happens, it will be truly beautiful.B次元官网网址�
The program intends to eventually release as many as 20 spotted owls per year. This number is dependent on the continued success of both the breeding program and the returned owls transition to the wild.
Due to the need to safeguard these owls from any outside disturbance, both the media and the general public are not allowed access to the release site until further notice.
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