Status and ecology of Mexican spotted owls in the Gila Region, New Mexico

Abstract

The highlands of New Mexico's Gila region provide an important stronghold for the Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida Nelson). Historical data document that this region supported spotted owls in the past, and recent studies indicate that owls are both relatively common and well distributed in this region at present. Spotted owls are most numerous in mixed-conifer forests within the Gila region but may also occur in other forest types, particularly where rocky cliffs and outcrops are present. These features provide owls with nest and roost sites as well as habitat for common prey species. Spotted owl diets in the region typically are dominated by a few types of nocturnally active small mammals. The Gila region features a convergence of topography, geologic substrates, and forest types that provide suitable habitat for Mexican spotted owls and their prey, and contains large roadless areas that result in minimal disturbance due to land management. These large roadless areas also provide unique opportunities to manage wildfire at landscape scales, thus providing an opportunity to evaluate relationships between spotted owls, forest habitats, and fire, Despite their abundance and widespread distribution in the region, however, studies between 1990 and 2005 suggest that some local owl populations may be declining in the region. This is a concern because the Gila region likely serves as an important source population of spotted owls. Uncertainty over population trends suggests a need for continued monitoring of owl populations in this region.

Citation

Ganey, Joseph L.; Telles, Arthur J.; Ramsey, Marikay A. 2008. Status and ecology of Mexican spotted owls in the Gila Region, New Mexico. The New Mexico Botanist. Special Issue 1: 34-48.