Mexican spotted owl habitat characteristics in Zion National Park

We studied Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) distribution, density, and habitat characteristics in Zion National Park from 1989-1991. We found 28 owls (12 pairs and 4 single males) at 16 different locations throughout the park. Estimated crude density ranged from 0.018-0.042 owls/ km(2) while estimated ecological density ranged from 0.216-0.738 owls/km(2) over 3 years. Owls were associated with narrow canyons that usually contained a water source. Spotted owls used canyons that had greater absolute humidity and more vegetation strata than canyons selected at random. The geomorphology of these canyons may provide conditions compensatory to the complex forest structure associated with the owl elsewhere within its range by providing cool roosts and nest sites.