Northern Spotted Owl Breeding Program

The Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) is one of Canada’s most endangered species, with fewer than 20 individuals remaining in British Columbia. Threats to the survival of the species includes the loss of old growth forests that Spotted Owls live in, and competition for these remaining habitats with the Barred Owl, which recently has colonized within the range of the Spotted Owl.

In 2007, NSO Breeding Program was initiated to prevent the extirpation of this iconic species in BC. The program was the first of its kind, and produced its first chick less than a year after being founded. The program began with six individuals and today the captive population is up to 17 Spotted Owls, thanks in part to the artificial incubation techniques and hand-rearing of newborn chicks.

The NSO Breeding Program’s goal is to produce between 10 to 20 Spotted Owls in captivity each year. These young owls will then be released back into over 300,000 ha (741,300 acres) of habitat protected to recover the species.

As the 2017 breeding season gets closer and closer we will keep you all updated through this page!