All day yesterday and this morning we had representatives from US Dept. Agriculture, Oregon State Forestry, Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife, Federal Soils Management, and the Federal biologist in charge of the spotted owl restoration wandering around our family property and meeting with us.
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| Spotted Owl |
The dogs and I really enjoyed walking with them and seeing the property from a totally ecological perspective. Bets of pop and beer flew around as to the age of the trees.
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| This Douglas Fir is 60 years old |
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| This 10" diameter Douglas Fir entwined by the oak that stunted it's growth is over 100 years old. |
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| This Douglas Fir is 36 years old. |
I find it exciting that we may become a designated Federal Spotted Owl Habitat even though the spotted owl is the nemesis of the Oregon wood products industry. According to the forester, in the 1980's, our county produced more lumber than anywhere else in the US. Now there are very few trees harvested. Only a handful of mills exist in all of Oregon. Whole towns have disappeared. All blamed on the endangered spotted owl. The general populous feeling is that if the owl completely dies off, logging can resume. I have always seen the owl as the canary in the cave. Only a very healthy ecosystem can support the spotted owl. I am proud of my husband's family for fostering our properties environment and allowing it to become a designated Spotted Owl Habitat.
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