"This is the world that the spotted owl knows so well. It is a community of life called an old-growth forest, one that can take two hundred years to begin to develop. It contains animals that depend on trees and trees that depend on animals."

The spotted owl of the Pacific Northwest has recently become the focus of a heated debate between loggers and environmentalists, foresters, and politicians. But how much do we really know about this small, rare bird?

In an engaging narrative Brenda Guiberson describes the delicate balance of nature necessary for the spotted owl and other creatures to survive, while explaining human economic dependence on the old-growth forests. Spotted Owl is an evenhanded presentation of a controversial subject, sure to provoke discussion of other environmental issues.