| The Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina, NSO) and the California Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis, CSO) are California Species of Special Concern. The NSO is listed as Federally Threatened and is under review for protection under the California Endangered Species Act as of December 2013. The CSO is under review by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as of September 2015. Both subspecies are tracked by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in the Spotted Owl Observations Database. The Database was created in 1973 and provides a centralized location for the collection, review, and reporting of Spotted Owl data by biologists, foresters and managers in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. CDFW receives numerous datasets from a wide variety of contributors. However, data gaps exist across the state, especially in the CSO range. To fill these gaps we encourage anyone with Spotted Owl data to submit their datasets to CDFW for inclusion in the Database. Additionally, CDFW manages the Barred Owl Observation Database to track the encroachment of the Barred Owl into Spotted Owl habitat. Therefore, we also encourage individuals to submit their Barred Owl data. |