U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Strategy to Protect Spotted Owls by Killing Barred Owls

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at supporting declining spotted owl populations in Oregon, Washington state, and California. The agency’s documents reveal that up to 450,000 barred owls could be culled over the next three decades.

Wildlife technician Jordan Hazan records data in a lab from a male barred owl he shot earlier in the night on October 24, 2018, in Corvallis, Oregon. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File

These barred owls, originally from the eastern U.S., have encroached upon the West Coast territories of the northern and California spotted owls. Unfortunately, the smaller spotted owls have struggled to compete with their larger, more aggressive counterparts.

The Challenge

Efforts to save spotted owls in the past primarily focused on preserving their forest habitats, which led to heated debates over logging practices. While these efforts did slow the decline of spotted owls, the recent surge in barred owl populations has posed a new challenge. Barred owls have disrupted the balance, outcompeting spotted owls for resources and nesting sites.

Barred Owl | Strix varia (C) Blair Dudeck

The Proposed Solution

The Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed solution involves actively managing barred owls. According to Kessina Lee, the Fish and Wildlife Service Oregon state supervisor, this approach is essential to prevent the northern spotted owl from going extinct across its range. Despite decades of collaborative conservation efforts, the threat remains significant.

Controversy and Criticism

The idea of culling one bird species to save another has sparked division among wildlife advocates and conservationists. Some reluctantly support the barred owl removal strategy, recognizing its necessity. However, others criticize it as a reckless diversion from essential forest preservation. Wayne Pacelle, founder of Animal Wellness Action, expressed skepticism about the program’s success, predicting challenges in preventing new barred owls from migrating into areas where others have been killed.

Implementation Details

Officials plan to begin the culling next spring. Barred owls will be lured using megaphones broadcasting recorded owl calls, then shot with shotguns. Their carcasses will be buried on-site. Researchers have already culled approximately 4,500 barred owls in some spotted owl habitats since 2009, according to Robin Bown, the barred owl strategy leader for the Fish and Wildlife Service.

In summary, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s strategy aims to strike a delicate balance between protecting the northern spotted owl and managing the invasive barred owl population. It’s a challenging task, but one that underscores the agency’s commitment to conservation and species survival.

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