By Dr. Royann J. Petrell
Assoc. Prof. Emeritus UBC BA: Biology
All of us can stop the continual population decline of the Threatened Western Screech Owl (kennicottii subspecies) by demanding the end to fragmentation or widespread cut-clearing.
Wide wildlife corridors that consist of old growth trees and snags, or older second-growth trees with lots of woodpecker holes are the answer. Act now before it is too late.
This video was made to help the citizens of North Cowichan, BC save their Western Screech Owls. Turn up the sound. The info herein pertains to any forest.
The corridor should also contain a water feature like a stream, pond or wetland that does not dry up in the summer. The corridors should connect to each other via large functioning forests.
The width of the wildlife corridors must be much wider than the small amount of forest left around salmon-bearing streams.
These corridors would not only help save the owls. They would store carbon for generations and help save and keep our precious water resources clean. Many other species would also thrive.
BC says they have a Western Screech Owl Recovery plan. That is not true! The BC Govt is greenwashing. That document does not contain any plan for saving them: Only studying them (maybe to death).
Barred Owl with Rabbit meal.