Monday, November 4, 2024
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Federal Agency Plans to Remove 450,000 Barred Owls to Enhance Population of Another Species


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a plan to cull as many as 450,000 barred owls over 30 years in order to save the spotted owl, a threatened species that is being outcompeted by the barred owl on the west coast. The agency believes that removing barred owls will allow spotted owls to rebound. A recent study funded by the USFWS showed that spotted owls had a better chance at survival in areas where barred owls were removed. While some animal welfare activists and Washington state’s public lands official oppose the plan, others, like Oregon’s Department of Forestry, support it. Critics argue that the plan is cruel and costly, with estimates suggesting it could cost $235,000,000 over 30 years. The USFWS can make a formal decision on the plan in a month, and will need to seek a permit from itself to begin the culling process. Despite concerns about the cost and potential unintended consequences, the agency believes the plan is necessary to protect the spotted owl from extinction.

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