A great deal of research has been devoted to the study of the Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis), particularly over the past quarter century. The problems faced by scientists working to achieve conservation of this species have required the development of new approaches and methods in data analysis, scientific inference, and conservation planning. Moreover, the substantial depth of information gathered during Spotted Owl studies provides an extensive platform upon which new ideas and methods can be tested and developed. Some of these advances are discussed in this paper. These contributions show that the study of the Spotted Owl has resulted in information and methods that are not only specific to the owl and its conservation but also are broadly relevant to ornithologists, ecologists, and wildlife managers.