Wildlife Officials in the U.S. Are Planning to Kill 450,000 Barred Owls to Save Spotted Owls

In a controversial and unprecedented move, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has unveiled a strategy to significantly reduce the population of barred owls in an effort to protect the dwindling numbers of northern spotted owls and California spotted owls. 

The plan, detailed in documents obtained by the Associated Press, aims to cull up to 450,000 barred owls over the next thirty years.

The conflict between barred owls and spotted owls has been intensifying over recent decades. 

Barred owls, native to the eastern United States, have steadily migrated westward, encroaching on the habitat of the smaller and less aggressive spotted owls. 

The barred owls' ability to thrive in smaller territories and produce larger broods has given them a competitive edge, leading to significant declines in spotted owl populations in Oregon, Washington, and California.

Efforts to protect the northern spotted owl have historically focused on preserving old-growth forests, resulting in contentious debates and logging restrictions in the 1990s. 

While these measures slowed the decline of the spotted owls, the aggressive proliferation of barred owls has recently undermined these conservation successes. 

According to Kessina Lee, the USFWS Oregon state supervisor, without direct intervention to manage the barred owl population, northern spotted owls could face extinction across much of their range.

The plan to shoot barred owls has sparked a heated debate among wildlife advocates and conservationists. 

Critics argue that killing one species to save another sets a dangerous precedent and questions the ethical implications of such actions. 

Wayne Pacelle, founder of Animal Wellness Action, criticized the approach, suggesting that it transforms the USFWS from a protector to a persecutor of wildlife and doubting the long-term efficacy of the program.

Despite the controversy, some conservation groups, including the American Bird Conservancy, have reluctantly supported the plan. 

They emphasize the urgent need to take drastic measures to ensure the survival of spotted owls. 

Steve Holmer, Vice President of the American Bird Conservancy, acknowledged the unfortunate necessity of reducing barred owl numbers but expressed hope that coexistence might be possible as forest habitats regenerate.

The shootings are set to commence next spring. 

Using megaphones to broadcast recorded owl calls, officials plan to lure barred owls and then eliminate them with shotguns, subsequently burying the carcasses on site. 

This method has been used in some spotted owl habitats since 2009, with approximately 4,500 barred owls removed to date.

The planned cull is expected to reduce the North American barred owl population by less than 1% annually. 

However, officials stress that this intervention is crucial to prevent the potential extinction of spotted owls. 

Additionally, the reduction of barred owls could benefit other species they prey upon, such as salamanders and crayfish.

Opponents of the plan argue that mass killings of barred owls could disrupt forest ecosystems and lead to unintended consequences, including the mistaken shooting of spotted owls. 

Some also dispute the classification of barred owls as invaders, suggesting their westward expansion is a natural ecological shift possibly influenced by climate change and human activity, such as tree planting across the Great Plains.

The debate highlights the complexities and ethical dilemmas inherent in wildlife management. 

As the final environmental study on the proposal is published, a 30-day public comment period will precede the final decision. 

This period will likely see fervent discussions among conservationists, wildlife advocates, and the general public regarding the best path forward for preserving biodiversity and protecting endangered species.

The USFWS's proposal to cull barred owls underscores the desperate measures sometimes deemed necessary to protect vulnerable species. 

While the plan has garnered support from some conservation groups, it also faces significant opposition from those who question its ethics and long-term viability. 

As the conversation continues, the fate of the spotted owl—and the broader implications for wildlife management—hangs in the balance.