Introduction

Abstract

In March 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Arizona population of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 1997). Federal listing for the owl in Arizona resulted from a petition submitted in 1992 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Galvin et al. 1992, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 1994). It was finalized based on historical and current evidence suggesting a significant population decline of this subspecies had occurred in Arizona and the owl population in this state was now nearly extirpated (see Phillips et al. 1964, Johnson et al. 1979, Monson and Phillips 1981, Rea 1983: 65-66, Hunter 1988, Millsap and Johnson 1988, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 1997). The loss and alteration of the owl’s habitat was identified as the primary threat to the remaining population (e.g., Johnson et al. 1979, Millsap and Johnson 1988, Hunter 1988, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 1997). In July 1999, critical habitat for the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl was also designated on 296,240 ha (731,712 acres) of federal, state, and private lands in Pima, Pinal, and Maricopa counties.

Parent Publication

• Ecology and conservation of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona

Citation

Cartron, Jean-Luc E. Finch; Deborah M. 2000. Introduction. In: Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Finch, Deborah M., tech. eds. Ecology and conservation of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-43. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 1-3