US Wildlife Officials to Cull 450,000 Barred Owls: A Controversial Plan to Save Spotted Owls

US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a plan to cull nearly 450,000 barred owls over the next 30 years.

In a decision that has sparked heated debate among conservationists, wildlife advocates, and the general public, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a plan to cull nearly 450,000 barred owls over the next 30 years. This drastic measure is aimed at saving the imperiled spotted owl, a species on the brink of extinction due to the encroachment of the more aggressive barred owls.

The Struggle Between Barred and Spotted Owls

Barred owls, originally from the eastern United States, have steadily moved westward over the past century. First observed in the Pacific Northwest in the 1970s, these larger, more adaptable birds have displaced the native spotted owls from their habitats in Oregon, Washington, and California. Unlike the barred owl, which thrives in various environments and reproduces quickly, the spotted owl is more specialized, requiring old-growth forests to survive and reproduce.

Over the past few decades, the population of spotted owls has plummeted. According to the USFWS, some regions have seen a decline of more than 75% in spotted owl numbers. The agency believes that without intervention, the spotted owl will likely face extinction in significant portions of its range.

Details of the Culling Plan

The culling plan involves sending trained shooters into dense forests to target barred owls. Using megaphones to broadcast recorded owl calls, these shooters will lure the barred owls and then eliminate them using shotguns. The carcasses will be buried on-site to prevent the spread of disease and other ecological disruptions. This method has been tested on a smaller scale since 2009, with around 4,500 barred owls already removed.

The plan outlined in the final environmental impact statement proposes the removal of up to 450,000 barred owls over 30 years, a number that represents less than 1% of the total barred owl population in the US. Public hunting of these owls is not allowed; instead, the task will be carried out by government agencies, landowners, Native American tribes, and companies, each of them needs to have had official instruction in firearms proficiency and owl identification.

The proposal has garnered a wide range of reactions. Conservation groups such as the American Bird Conservancy support the plan, viewing it as a necessary, albeit unfortunate, measure to save the spotted owl. Steve Holmer from the bird conservancy expressed hope that as old forests regenerate, the need for such interventions will decrease, allowing both species to coexist.

However, animal welfare advocates are vehemently opposed. Wayne Pacelle from Animal Wellness Action criticized the plan, describing it as a shift from protecting wildlife to persecuting it. He argued that the strategy would likely fail due to the continuous migration of barred owls into culled areas.

Washington state’s public lands commissioner, Hilary Franz, has also raised concerns. She questioned the plan’s feasibility, estimated to cost $235 million over 30 years, and worried about potential unintended consequences, such as disrupting forest ecosystems or accidentally killing spotted owls.

Historical Context and Future Implications

The conflict between barred and spotted owls is deeply rooted in the history of conservation efforts. In the 1990s, spotted owls became a symbol of the environmental movement, leading to logging bans in old-growth forests where they reside. These actions caused significant political and economic turmoil, particularly affecting the timber industry.

Despite these measures, the barred owl’s expansion continued. Human activities, such as the planting of trees across the Great Plains and climate change making new regions hospitable, facilitated their westward movement. This has placed the spotted owl in a precarious position, with its survival now dependent on the aggressive management of barred owl populations.

Bridget Moran, deputy state supervisor for the USFWS in Oregon, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “We have to manage the barred owl. There is time to protect spotted owls, but that window is closing.” The agency’s decision underscores the critical need to address the declining spotted owl population before it’s too late.

Looking Ahead

The final decision on the culling plan will be made after a 30-day public comment period following the release of the environmental impact statement. This period allows stakeholders to voice their opinions and concerns, potentially influencing the plan’s implementation.

The future of both barred and spotted owls hangs in the balance as this debate unfolds. The USFWS’s approach highlights the complexities and ethical dilemmas inherent in wildlife management. While the plan aims to avert the extinction of a threatened species, it raises profound questions about the lengths to which humans should go to rectify ecological imbalances of their own making.

The outcome of this contentious plan will serve as a significant precedent in conservation policy, potentially shaping future strategies for managing invasive species and protecting endangered wildlife. As the discussion continues, it is clear that there are no easy answers in the delicate balance between preserving biodiversity and managing invasive species.