Two male northern spotted owls, released into the wild last year as part of a conservation effort, have tragically died, according to the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. The owls, initially moved to an aviary in a protected forest in the Fraser Valley, were later released into their natural habitat.
A necropsy on one owl revealed severe emaciation as the cause of death, while the other is believed to have succumbed to a predator. These recent losses bring the total number of deaths to six for owls released from a Langley-based conservation breeding program, which began in 2007.
Despite the setbacks, the Wilderness Committee remains hopeful. Joe Foy of the organization emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the program and the challenges in ensuring released owls can survive in the forest. “This final step… is a tough one. But we need them to succeed,” Foy stated.
The province faces additional environmental challenges, with opposition to a proposed mountain resort in the Fraser Valley. Currently, only one known wild-born northern spotted owl remains in British Columbia, although there may be others. Once home to 500 breeding pairs, the population declined drastically due to industrial logging.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to the long-term goal of releasing up to 20 owls into the wild annually, despite previous losses attributed to injury, predation, disease, and starvation.
Source: Swifteradio.com
