Jon Hardes, Compliance Program Manager
The Mexican spotted owl (MSO) is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and Walnut Canyon is designated Critical Habitat for the species.
The purpose of this multi-year study is to describe the dietary composition (species and biomass) of MSO in Walnut Canyon National Monument, through the analysis of their pellets. This ongoing inventory of prey composition and biomass will allow resource managers to plan forest management projects aimed at protecting MSO Critical Habitat and prey environments.
Thus far, after year one of the study, more than 1,600 prey items (individual bones) have been identified from some 50 pellets. Eight different mammalian and bird genus/species have been identified, including the identification of four species never before recorded from Walnut Canyon.
The project is being conducted by the monuments’ Planning & Compliance Program Manager (and vertebrate osteologist), Jon Hardes, with generous funding from a Western National Parks Association (WNPA) research grant. Results of the study will be published and presented at a number of public events and venues, including local schools, the Walnut Canyon Visitor Center, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) night and the Flagstaff Festival of Science.