Face Of This Place
Pearl and Max
Ever wonder what the wildlife think about these wonderful places that we save every day? We do! So we thought we’d ask them. Some license may have been taken, but we’re pretty sure this is what they’d say if they could.
Pearl and Max are two Northern spotted owls whoooo live in the Salmon Creek Forest, a 4,000 acre tract of forestland on California’s north coast protected and managed by The Conservation Fund. Through our North Coast Forest Conservation Initiative, we have now protected 125,000 acres of forestland that is sustainably managed for timber, carbon sequestration and habitat restoration.
What brought you two together?
Max: We have so much in common. We both enjoy spending time in forests that are diverse in tree type, age and density, and having lots of open space to fly underneath the canopies.
Is Salmon Creek Forest a safe place to live?
Pearl: Good question! The forest products industry likes to use wood from the same forests that we call home, and once a forest is logged, it can take decades to grow back to a state that is healthy enough to support us. The Conservation Fund began sustainably managing our forest about 10 years ago, and they are real pros at balancing environmental strategies and economics! Believe it or not, active timber management can be a benefit to us and the local economy because it provides jobs while promoting the development of the diverse forests we need for food, shelter and reproduction.
Do you believe in luck?
Max: Absolutely. We are so lucky to live on Salmon Creek Forest. We are what they call an “indicator species” for forest diversity, which means that scientists study us to get a better picture of the health of the ecosystem where we live. Thanks to The Conservation Fund, our forest is safe from development and fragmentation—making this the perfect place for us to relax and enjoy our life together.
What is your favorite thing about Max?
Pearl: I feel so fortunate that Max is mine—that we are a pair. Max is just so wise and he is always doing nice things for me. You see, we need a large territory of our own for hunting and nesting, and we have that here at Salmon Creek Forest. Max loves to hunt, and he brings me back small rodents such as red tree voles and woodrats so that I can spend more time on my nest and with our family.
What is something people might not know about you?
Max: Back in 1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed us as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Since then, a number of public and private conservation partnerships have been put in place to help us recover. The two main threats to our species are habitat loss and competition from the barred owl, a species native to eastern North America.
If you could give one piece of advice to people, what would it be?
Pearl: People need nature, and nature needs people to protect it. Support conservation organizations like The Conservation Fund that is known for putting 96% of every dollar directly to its mission!
Learn More
- More Face Of This Place
- Big River And Salmon Creek Forests
- North Coast Forest Conservation Initiative
- Our Forestry Work
