Wildlife Officials Are Planning To Kill Off 450,000 Invasive American Owls In Order To Protect Two Native Species
Over the course of three decades, wildlife officials in the United States plan to kill off 450,000 “invasive” American owls and their hybrid offspring.
The reduction of the barred owl population in the Northwest region is necessary in order to protect two native owl species. The species are facing rapid declines as the barred owls take over.
Barred owls (Strix varia) are a large species of owl that is native to eastern North America. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the owls started moving west of the Mississippi River to the Great Plains and northern boreal forest due to human habitation. The owls are now prevalent in Washington, Oregon, and California, where they are considered an invasive species.
The arrival of barred owls in the Northwest have negatively affected northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) and California spotted owls (Strix occidentalis occidentalis).
They are both significantly smaller than barred owls and are losing much of their food and territory to the invasive birds.
Over the past few decades, extreme logging activity has reduced their range and hindered their survival even more.
In addition, female barred owls have started mating with the male spotted owls, creating hybrid offspring. This has the potential to severely limit the gene pool of the spotted owl species.
Across most of its range, the northern spotted owl population is now outnumbered by barred owls. Currently, northern spotted owls are listed as threatened in the Endangered Species Act.
The FWS has also proposed that California spotted owls be added to the list since their numbers are beginning to drop.
Teresa – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
The FWS announced its Proposed Barred Owl Management Strategy on July 3. The federal agency plans to remove around 450,000 barred owls and barred-spotted owl hybrids within a period of 30 years. By the end of this year, the plan could be made official.
Even though nearly half a million owls will be eradicated, the cull will only get rid of less than one percent of the barred owl population.
The approach is less aggressive and will result in the death of fewer owls than other strategies that were proposed by the FWS.
It is hoped that the cull will help northern spotted owl populations will recover and stop the spread of barred owls to the south, where the California spotted owls are.
Members of the public will not be allowed to shoot barred owls. Only licensed hunters are permitted to do so. The use of lead ammunition will also be prohibited because of its environmental impact.
However, some people are against the FWS plan altogether. At least 75 wildlife protection and animal welfare groups have condemned the plan, claiming it to be “reckless.”
They pointed out that barred owls are being punished for the actions of humans that enabled them to expand their habitat range.
Furthermore, owls are hard to hunt, which could lead to the wrong owl species or other animals being killed.
They suggested that a “non-lethal control approach” be used. The FWS states that the cull is the best solution for all species involved and that the agency has an obligation to protect listed species.
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