Overview:  As possibly one of the most popularized and controversial listed species of the Pacific North West, northern spotted owl populations are still present within Washington state.  According to WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) it is estimated that there are 851 total site centers of northern spotted owl pairs or resident single owls in Washington State (between 1989 and 1993).  The range of these populations has been defined into 4 physiographic provinces (USDA/USDI 1994a): the Eastern and Western Cascades, Western Lowlands, and Olympic Peninsula Provinces.  Northern spotted owls generally rely on large home ranges and use large tracts of land containing older forest to meet their biological needs.  In general, spotted owl habitat consists of four components: nesting, roosting, foraging, and dispersal.  Due to the fact that these needs are found in areas where timber is of high quality, habitat protection has been a complex situation.  Recently, WDFW biologists have concentrated most of their habitat protection efforts on working with landowners to preserve areas which receive no federal protection.  Currently, WDFW is in the process of putting together more updated assessments of the population trends within Washington and the entire Pacific Northwest.  As of today, all data available is limited and outdated but within the next six months new information will be released.  For more information on this species check out the WDFW’s web page @http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/wlm/diversty/soc/spowl.htmor the North Cascades' page @ http://www.nps.gov/noca/treas4-11.htm.
 

Distribution:  Currently, there is no distribution map available for this species.  WDFW is in the process of formulating new data on the exact population distribution of northern spotted owl within Washington.  Until this new data is released, map analysis of this species would not be accurate and has been put on hold.  Historically, northern spotted owl species are considered to have inhabited most of the areas of this state which were heavily forested.