Endangered Animals in an Old-Growth Forest

Old-growth forests have been reduced around the world and the result is the endangerment of species that rely on the old-growth ecosystem to survive. Old-growth forest ecosystems are different from the ecosystems found in younger forests. The soil in old-growth forests is richer and canopies of the forest are thicker, which provides a unique environment for the animals that live there. When old forest growth is cut down, it takes generations to repair the effects.

  1. Northern Spotted Owl

    • The Spotted Owl is a native bird to old-growth forests in the northwestern part of the U.S. The Spotted Owl was placed on the endangered species list in June 1990. Spotted owl pairs make a home territory of 3,200 acres which spreads the number of owls out significantly. The owls nest in the gaps created in the side of the tree when a branch falls off of a living tree or another natural disaster creates the void. The canopy of the forest helps to protect owl chicks from the constant rains that are known to accompany the region's winters.

    Marbled Murrelet

    • The Marbled Murrelet is a bird that likes to live in the old-growth forests along the coast of the Pacific Northwest. This bird nests in the highest branches of old-growth trees. The nests of this bird are difficult to locate because they like to nest near the crown of the tree, out of the reach of predators. The Marbled Murrelet feeds on fish from the coastline and nearby rivers. But logging of old-growth forests are allowing soil to run off into the nearby rivers and fish numbers are decreasing.

    Coho Salmon

    • Coho Salmon are native to the rivers of the Northwest. Old-growth forests hold the soil around these rivers in place and help to keep the water clean, clear, and running for the salmon. The Coho Salmon is becoming endangered in some of these rivers due to old-growth forests being logged and soil eroding into the river. As underbrush is removed and trees are uprooted, the soil is loosened and caught in the runoff of the seasonal rains of the region.

    Spot Tailed Quoll

    • The endangerment of species that live in old growth forests is a worldwide problem. In Australia, the Spot Tailed Quoll is a carnivorous mammal that relies on the old-growth forest to survive. The Spot Tailed Quoll feeds on invertebrates and other small-animals such as rodents. This animal will frequently climb to high branches to search the hollows of old growth trees for prey.