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 ...
