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Mexican Spotted Owls: Jennifer A. Heck June 30, 1993 93-620 ENR
BACKGROUND Common Name: Mexican spotted owl Scientific Name: Strix occidentalis lucida Historic Range: Central Colorado and Utah south through New Mexico and Arizona, the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas, and into the mountains of northern and central Mexico. Current Range: Central Colorado and Utah south through Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas, then south discontinuously through northwestern Mexico to the State of Michoacan. Highest population densities are in southern New Mexico and southern Arizona. Historic range and present distribution are thought to be similar except for current absence of owls from lower elevation riparian forests. Habitat: Forested mountains and canyons; also slickrock canyons at north end of range. Preferred forest types include mixed conifer, Ponderosa pine/oak, and occasionally pinion-juniper woodland. Stands with mature trees and a closed canopy are characteristic nesting sites. Population Trends: FWS estimated in March 1993 that 2,160 MSOs exist in the United States. There are no estimates of the owl's historic population size. FWS reports that numbers of MSOs are also dangerously low in Mexico. Legal status (Federal); Threatened throughout entire range, including Mexico. Declared March 16, 1993 (58 FR 14248). Principal Affected Federal Agencies: FS (Agriculture Department); National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, FWS (Interior Department); Bureau of Indian Affairs. Major threats: Habitat fragmentation from timber sales of small cutting units; increased opportunities for predation by great horned owls due to habitat modification (increased open space) and fire. Controversy: In accordance with Section 7 of the ESA, FS is consulting with FWS on proposed timber sales that might affect MSOs or their habitat. The first request for consultation, dated April14, 1993, involved 88 proposed projects (mostly timber sales) in New Mexico and Arizona. The second request, dated May 20, 1993, involved 37 projects in the same States. FS officials have determined that each of these 125 projects is unlikely to adversely affect MSOs. FWS officials must review these projects and issue a response within 10 days. If FWS concurs with the FS on a given proposal, then the project may proceed. Alternatively, FWS can issue a "conditional concurrence," which is granted if certain recommendations for change are incorporated into the proposal. The preceding options are both considered to be forms of "informal consultation;" formal consultation occurs only if the two agencies cannot agree. FWS reports that it is processing projects from both requests simultaneously. As of June 18, 1993, FWS officials reported having concurred with FS officials on 17 and conditionally concurred on 29 more projects contained in the April 14 request. Of the remaining 22 projects contained in that request, it is expected that a few more will be cleared, but that the rest will require formal consultation. The FS rejected the conditional concurrences, requesting instead that these projects move directly into formal consultation Upcoming Events or Deadlines: FWS must complete consultation within 90 days of submission of a request and must issue a biological opinion within an additional 45 days. This means that a decision on each of the 88 projects in the first request, whether made by informal or formal consultation, should be made by September 1993. Likewise, a decision on each of the 37 projects in the second request is expected by October 1993. In addition, a critical habitat designation for MSOs is required to be published by FWS in November 4, 1993. |