In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a dramatic environmental struggle is playing out between two species of owls.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has put forward a questionable plan to significantly reduce the number of barred owls, an invasive species, to protect the native northern spotted owl.
Barred owls, originally from the U.S. East Coast, have been in the Pacific Northwest since the 1950s.
Their numbers have grown substantially, surpassing those of the native spotted owls in areas like Washington, Oregon, and California.
These invasive owls are larger, more aggressive, and have a broader diet compared to the spotted owls.
Consequently, they are overpowering the native species, taking over their habitats, competing for food, and even attacking them.
The increasing presence of barred owls has been linked to a sharp decline in the northern spotted owl population, now listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
In the last 20 years, their numbers have fallen precipitously.
The barred owls are also moving into the territory of California’s spotted owls, further threatening these already vulnerable populations.
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Katherine Fitzgerald, the northern spotted owl recovery lead for the FWS, highlighted the seriousness of the situation in a statement to the Seattle Times: “Everywhere the spotted owl can live and thrive, barred owls can thrive and do even better. They are still invading, and they are not done.”
The proposed solution by the FWS involves a large-scale culling of barred owls.
The plan, set to possibly start in 2025, includes removing about 20,000 barred owls in the first year, with increasing numbers each year for three decades. This will be done through hunting, with landowners and managers being able to get permits for this purpose. In populated areas, the plan allows for capturing and euthanizing the owls as an alternative.
However, this plan is not without controversy. Bob Sallinger, executive director of Bird Conservation Oregon, shared his concerns with the Seattle Times: “Are we going to do more harm than good? Do we really want a bunch of people in the woods shooting at what are otherwise protected birds? I nearly always opposed these sorts of programs. I do put the highest priority on preventing extinction, and there is science that shows us this is probably necessary. But this is really a no-win, awful situation we created for ourselves. It is appalling we have to consider these kinds of measures, and incredibly sad.”
Despite the concerns, experts believe that this culling strategy will be effective.
Research has shown that reducing the number of barred owls helps stabilize the spotted owl populations.
The aim is to reduce the barred owl population by about 30 percent, which should relieve some of the pressure on the spotted owls.
Kessina Lee, state supervisor for the Oregon office of FWS, is optimistic about the impact of this approach: “We know we can’t fully eradicate them, but we know we can create [refuge] areas with much lower barred owl density that allows spotted owls to survive and thrive. We know we can make a difference. Can it be done? The answer is yes.”
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