Roosts and woodrats: Forest restoration can provide both nesting habitat and food for spotted owls in the Sierra Nevada

Erika Reiter; Gavin M. Jones

Treesearch

Roosts and woodrats: Forest restoration can provide both nesting habitat and food for spotted owls in the Sierra Nevada

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Erika Reiter, Gavin M. Jones

Year:

2025

Type:

Science Bulletins and Newsletters

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), October 2025. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.

Download (PDF 3.34 MB)

Download (PDF 3.34 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/69007.pdf

Abstract

Mature forest cover for nesting and roosting currently plays a starring role in California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) habitat management, but spotted owls also depend on access to nearby mixed-age forest stands that support one of their main food sources, the dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes).

Keywords

forest restoration, forest cover, nesting, roosting, foraging, habitat, fire, California spotted owl, Strix occidentalis occidentalis, dusky-footed woodrat, Neotoma fuscipes

Citation

Reiter, Erika; Jones, Gavin. 2025. Roosts and woodrats: Forest restoration can provide both nesting habitat and food for spotted owls in the Sierra Nevada. Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), October 2025. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.