With only an estimated 25 B.C. northern spotted owls remaining in the wild, the provincial government is considering a plan to capture all remaining owls, including those that live in the boundaries of the District of Squamish, for a captive breeding and reintroduction program.
But in the meantime, a locally-based logging company is slated to begin work in one of the birds' few remaining habitat areas.The Squamish area is high on the radar of those interesting in seeing the birds' survival.
"We're aware of a number of the owls living within the boundaries of the District of Squamish," said conservation officer Dave Jevons.
"If capturing the owls for breeding will be effective than I am supportive of it."
The birds are primarily threatened due to a loss of natural habitat, and are continuing to dwindle in population.
According to Andy Miller, a biologist with the B.C. Wilderness Committee who studies the birds, habitat is quickly disappearing with one of the most important owl sites, near Birkenhead Lake in the Blackwater Valley northeast of Pemberton. The area has been scheduled for logging by Lizzie Bay Logging, which has offices in both Squamish and Pemberton.
"It's hard to say that one valley is going to make a difference, but if there ever was one valley that could make a difference, it's the Blackwater," said Miller.
"We have more data on that area then anywhere else. The pair in the Birkenhead Park have been our reproductive rock, producing more offspring then any other birds. We know through radio collar tracking that all of their young use the Blackwater Valley to travel out into the rest of B.C. and they hang out there learning the ropes."
But, while that nesting pair have been in the area for 15 years, they have yet to be spotted this year.
"That's not uncommon with owls, because they can be elusive," said Miller. "We think there's a chance they've actually moved into the Blackwater Valley. Historically there have been pairs there before."
Representatives at Lizzie Bay Logging suggested that the owls' situation in the area is not as dire as may be suggested.
"We're not aware of owls in the immediate area," said Norm LeBlanc, president of Lizzie Logging.
"And it should be noted that this timber sale, it's not our job to defend. it That's the job of B.C. Timber Sales. The provincial government put this up for auction and we just bid on it."
Some spotted owl experts are leery of the capture and relocation program's effectiveness.
"I would be more supportive of it if there was an added protection for existing spotted owl habitats so there would be places where the bird could actually be reintroduced," said Miller.
