To save one endangered owl species, scientists back waging war on another

In a controversial conservation effort, scientists are culling barred owls to protect the endangered northern spotted owl in the United States.

For five years, wildlife preservationists have been engaged in this effort, which has involved killing thousands of barred owls. The northern spotted owl population has been declining due to the encroachment of barred owls into their western US habitats. Barred owls are more aggressive and can displace spotted owls from their nesting sites, leading to a lack of new generations.

While killing other birds conflicts with conservation ideals, shooting barred owls is presented as the only viable option to save the spotted owls, according to a Science article. Early experiments, like one conducted by Lowell Diller from 2009 to 2014, showed that spotted owl numbers stabilized in areas where barred owls were removed.

Larger-scale experiments in Washington, Oregon, and California, which concluded in 2019, involved killing 2,485 barred owls. These tests also indicated stabilization of spotted owl populations where barred owls were shot, contrasting with a 12% annual decline in untouched areas. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is now considering a plan to use trained teams to kill up to 450,000 barred owls over 30 years to create spotted owl refuges across the three states.

This is not the first time drastic measures have been taken to save the spotted owl. Past logging practices had pushed the species toward extinction, leading to its listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1990 and subsequent logging restrictions in its habitat.

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You get this population of old birds with no young coming on.