Scott Swanson
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a “science-based proposal” that designates 9.3 million acres of “critical habitat” in Oregon and other Northwest states to preserve the northern spotted owl from extinction.
The protected area, announced Nov. 21 by the service, includes Sweet Home Ranger District’s forests, District Ranger Cindy Glick said.
The plan nearly doubles the amount of Northwest national forest land dedicated to protecting the bird by the Bush administration…