Federal agency proposes reducing barred owl population by 450,000 to benefit another species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a final plan to cull up to 450,000 barred owls over 30 years in order to save the threatened spotted owl. The barred owl, a non-native species that arrived on the west coast due to European settlement, is outcompeting the spotted owl and causing its population to decline by 75% over the past two decades. The agency’s proposal involves using professionals to attract and shoot barred owls with shotguns to reduce competition and give spotted owls a better chance at survival. The plan has faced criticism from some animal welfare activists, including Friends of Animals, who are considering legal action. Washington’s public lands commissioner also raised concerns about the cost and potential unintended consequences of the plan, calling it an “extreme solution.” The cost estimate for the program is $235 million over 30 years, but the actual costs will depend on the participation of different agencies and land managers. Despite the controversy, the plan has some support, including from Oregon’s Department of Forestry, which recognizes the threat of barred owls to the spotted owl population. The USFWS is expected to make a formal decision on the plan in the coming month, as they will need to seek a permit from themselves to begin culling barred owls, which are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

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