Wildlife Officials Propose Controversial Plan to Save Spotted Owl

Here is a bullshit idea if I ever heard one. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has unveiled a contentious strategy to prevent the potential extinction of the northern spotted owl by killing its competitor, the barred owl, using trained shooters to eliminate nearly half a million barred owls across dense West Coast forests.

Barred owls, originally from the eastern U.S., have allegedly encroached into the territory of northern spotted owls and California spotted owls, outcompeting them due to their larger broods and adaptability to survive in smaller habitats. This invasion has exacerbated the decline of the smaller, more vulnerable spotted owl populations.

Previous conservation efforts focused on preserving spotted owl habitats, which sparked contentious debates over logging policies, which succeeded in slowing the decline of spotted owls. However, the rapid increase of barred owl populations in recent years has undermined these efforts, prompting the need for more aggressive intervention.

According to Kessina Lee, Oregon state supervisor for the Fish and Wildlife Service, without active management of barred owls, northern spotted owls face likely extinction across much of their range, despite decades of collaborative conservation efforts.

The proposal to shoot barred owls has sharply divided wildlife advocates and conservationists. Some reluctantly support the plan as a necessary step to save the spotted owl species. Others called it a misguided and potentially harmful diversion from broader forest preservation goals.

Wayne Pacelle, founder of Animal Wellness Action, criticized the strategy, accusing the Fish and Wildlife Service of shifting from wildlife protection to persecution. He expressed skepticism about the program, arguing that it may fail to prevent new barred owls from migrating into areas.

Under the plan, shooting of barred owls using recorded owl calls to lure them would commence as early as next spring. Carcasses would get buried on-site to minimize environmental impact.

Supporters of the plan, including the American Bird Conservancy, argue that while regrettable, reducing barred owl populations could facilitate coexistence with spotted owls over the long term as forest habitats regenerate.

Opponents warn of potential ecological disruptions caused by mass owl killings and challenge the notion that barred owls do not belong in the West Coast ecosystem. They claim natural ecological shifts and climate change for the barred owls’ westward expansion.

The final decision awaits the completion of an environmental study and a 30-day public comment period.

Having grown up and having lived less than a quarter mile from the Redwood forest, I never once saw a Spotted Owl, but I did watch the environmental-faithful destroy the once-brisk logging industry.