Current Projects

The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) is at immanent risk of extirpation from its historic range in Washington. This charismatic owl species requires old growth forest to persist, and populations have been declining due to habitat loss and competition with invading Barred owls (Strix varia).

The Computational Ecology Group, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and partners developed a conservation translocation feasibility modeling assessment, to compare strategies for translocating northern spotted owl populations. We developed a decision support framework in the form of a spatial-population simulation model that synthesizes empirical information on species’ life history, movement, habitat, competitors, and genetics. We used this innovative modeling framework to assess relative the ecological feasibility of translocation options.