Northern spotted owl once became a symbol of America’s logging wars; now scientists say it is already functionally extinct

The northern spotted owl, once a revered icon of environmental activism, faces dire circumstances as it becomes functionally extinct in numerous regions. A recent study indicates a severe decline in its populations throughout their historical habitat. Factors such as habitat destruction and rampant wildfires have severely impacted the species over the years, while the encroaching barred owl emerges as a formidable threat.