The US Fish and Wildlife Service has released a final plan to cull as many as 450,000 barred owls over 30 years in order to save the threatened spotted owl, which is being crowded out by the barred owl. The plan involves using professionals to attract and shoot the barred owls in an effort to reduce competition and allow the spotted owl population to rebound. The proposal has received opposition from animal welfare activists who call it cruel and unnecessary, while some have raised concerns about the cost and potential unintended consequences of the plan. Washington’s public lands commissioner has questioned the feasibility of the program, citing the lack of precedent for such a large-scale wildlife control effort. The USFWS is expected to make a formal decision on the plan in the near future. The agency believes that managing the barred owl population is necessary to protect the spotted owl from extinction, as their habitats overlap and the presence of barred owls has had a significant impact on spotted owl populations in recent years.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
Federal agency’s initiative to decrease barred owl population by 450,000 in order to support the growth of another species
