Federal Judge Orders Decision on California Spotted Owl Protections by April
Published Friday, November 6, 2026
A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decide by April 30 whether to list the California spotted owl under the federal Endangered Species Act. U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee issued the ruling following a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity over years of delays in the agency's final listing determination.
FWS had requested until May 2028 to complete its review, citing staffing and resource constraints, but the court determined that six months would provide sufficient time. The California spotted owl inhabits forested areas throughout the Sierra Nevada and parts of Southern California. A federal listing could have implications for forest management, timber operations, and activities on public and private lands within the species' habitat.
The ruling does not require FWS to list the species but establishes a deadline for the agency to make its final determination.
Staff contact: Bryan Little, blittle@cfbf.com.
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