Almost as uncommon as the American Bald Eagle once was in danger of becoming in the lower 48.........

Òpending extinction of a number of BC's forest-dependant endangered species, including the Northern spotted owl, Canada's most endangered bird speciesÓ

Òthe Spotted Owl, Canada's most endangered birdÓ

Ò200 spotted owls left in British Columbia. Today, only 6 pairs have been locatedÓ

Òorder the protection of all of the remaining spotted owl forest habitat within the owl's Canadian rangeÓ

ÒSARCO requested to meet with enviro-groups (like the Wilderness Committee) who are working to save the spotted owl in CanadaÓ

ÒProtecting all of the owl's remaining habitat is the only thing that can give Canada's spotted owl a fighting chanceÓ

Óour options for recovering the spotted owl in CanadaÓ

Òwould protect about 300,000 hectares of older forests,
currently outside of parks, around the communities of Vancouver, Mission, Chilliwack, Hope, Boston Bar, Lytton, Lillooet and WhistlerÓ (this area represents a very small portion of the havestable timber in BC)

I suppose the WCWC could have used the technical term ÒextirpatedÓ from its Canadian range, but considering the plight of this bird south of the border as well, any attempt to protect the remaining population in North America would seem prudent.

If one is satisfied that the relentless process of shrinking genetic diversity within a species is a good thing, as a result of destruction of habitat and other factors, then lead on MacDuff! I for one, am not that certain it is.

One thing for sure, whatever process of time, habitat and genetics made Ursus arctos californicus, once the largest of the Brown bears in the world and provided itÕs unique colouration, no reintroduction of Ursus arctos is really going to bring the California Grizzly back from extinction, unless it is possible to retrieve some DNA from museum specimens.

It would have been sad if Alaska had become the only remaining State which could legitimately claim the American Eagle too. Of course the symbol of America was worth considering fighting for and changing industrial procedures and methods of habitat protection was not deemed beyond the pale in order to do so. "Was that politics? You bet it was! Of course if little had been done, Canada could have always turned around and said ÒDonÕt worry boys, weÕll ship you a few south to display in your game parks!Ó

Then again, there will always be those who would say, ÒAre there no zoos?Ó