Barred Owl Removal for Conservation

SOURCE www.yahoo.com
U.S. wildlife officials plan to kill invasive barred owls to protect native owl species in West Coast forests by targeting up to 452,000 barred owls over 30 years in California, Oregon, and Washington.

Key Points

  • Barred owls are displacing native spotted owls in the Pacific Northwest
  • Their predatory behavior threatens other wildlife species
  • Previous efforts to kill barred owls have shown some success in halting the decline of spotted owls

Pros

  • Protection of native owl species
  • Prevention of extinction of spotted owls

Cons

  • Controversial strategy
  • Costly and resource-intensive