In 1990 the northern spotted owl was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Loss of old-growth habitat was cited as the primary threat to the species. The next year a court order stopped all logging in national forests containing the northern spotted owl, putting loggers and conservationists in direct conflict. Although evidence showed that logging jobs were already in decline before the owl’s listing, the spotted owl nonetheless became a symbol of the struggle between those who wanted to harvest natural resources for profit and the conservationists who wanted to protect them. The issue became so heated that at the height of the conflict logging towns banned the Forest Service’s “Woodsy the Owl” from visiting local schools.

Finished Measurements: 9.5 x 9 inches
Gauge: 18 sts = 4 inches in garter st
Materials:
100 yds worsted weight cotton yarn
US size 8 needles
Cable needle
Tapestry needle

This pattern is part of a larger project of patterns inspired by national parks and wildlife refuges.