Are California spotted owls protected by the California Forest Practice rules?
A. No. These rules address northern spotted owls, but do not cover California spotted owls. Q. Are there other existing regulations protecting California spotted owls? A. None specifically, although the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the California Fish and Game Code prohibit the killing or destruction of spotted owls, their nests or their eggs. No regulations prohibit the removal of California spotted owl habitat. Q. Does the Forest Service have any guidelines to protect the California spotted owl? A. The Forest Service has interim guidelines in place as it develops a conservation strategy for the California spotted owl. These guidelines have been in effect for seven years and a conservation strategy has not yet been produced. They allow the degradation and modification of suitable habitat to such an extent that suitable nesting habitat could be significantly modified or rendered unsuitable. In addition, the continued use of Protected Activity Centers, 300-acre core areas cente
