The existence of any remaining wild northern spotted owls in British Columbia is uncertain. The most recent sighting dates back to 2023, following a significant decline in their population over many years.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss, Spuzzum First Nation Chief Janice Kuester emphasized the cultural significance of the owls to their community as knowledge keepers and ancestors.
Collaborating since 2022, the Spuzzum First Nation has been working with the provincial government to support the conservation and recovery efforts for the owls.
The northern spotted owl’s habitat spans from the Lower Mainland through Washington state, Oregon, and northern California. While the U.S. still has thousands of these owls, the Canadian population is now almost nonexistent.
According to Joe Foy from the Wilderness Committee, the presence of spotted owls that complete their life cycle in old-growth forests in British Columbia has ceased, marking a significant decline in the species.
Despite this, there is still optimism for the future.
A northern spotted owl perched on a tree branch near Korbel, California, on May 30, 2017. The U.S. still has a substantial number of wild owls. (Sharon Bernstein/Reuters)
Biologist and ecological consultant Jared Hobbs believes reintroducing the species in British Columbia is feasible but stresses the need to protect the recovery options to ensure its success.
As long as suitable habitat exists and owls are able to reproduce, there remains hope for the survival of the species.
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Spuzzum First Nation ‘furious’ after federal government decides against order to protect endangered owls
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Minister broke law over emergency order for spotted owl: judge
Efforts to secure an emergency order for the owls were unsuccessful in 2023 when the federal cabinet rejected a recommendation from then-environment minister Steven Guilbeault, who a judge later ruled had unlawfully delayed the decision for eight months.
Instead of an emergency order, the government has committed to partnering with British Columbia and Indigenous communities, as outlined in a federal recovery strategy. This plan identifies logging and species competition as the primary threats to the owls and aims to restore a stable population of 250 individuals.
