GeomorphIS Team to Conduct Mexican Spotted Owl Surveys on Coronado NF

The USDA Forest Service has contracted with the GeomorphIS-BIOME, Ecological & Wildlife Research team to conduct 2019 Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) surveys at several locations within the Coronado National Forest (CNF), Arizona. Survey sites are in the Galiuro Mountains, Catalina Mountains, Chiricahua Mountains, and Dragoon Mountains, in the southern part of the state. Data gathered by the GeomorphIS-BIOME team will help the CNF to protect this species during restoration projects. Formal surveys were completed in the mountain range for the first time in 2017 and 2018 in more than 20 years, and the intent in 2019 is to continue this
effort. Based on the results of the 2019 surveys, GeomorphIS-BIOME will assist USFS staff with re-drawing protected activity center (PAC) boundaries and investigating inventory areas based on potentially suitable habitat.