Animal Advocacy Groups Denounce Federal Plan to Cull Barred Owls, Protect Spotted Owl Population

A federal plan to reduce the population of barred owls in an effort to protect the declining northern spotted owl population has drawn criticism from animal advocacy groups.

A coalition of 75 animal rights and wildlife protection organizations penned a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, urging her to abandon the proposed strategy. The plan aims to eliminate approximately half a million barred owls across West Coast states over the next three decades, a move the groups label as “reckless.”

The letter, led by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, argues that the plan is impractical and shortsighted. It raises concerns about the potential for unintended consequences, such as disrupting nesting behavior and mistakenly targeting the wrong owls.

“Implementing a decades-long plan to unleash untold numbers of ‘hunters’ in sensitive forest ecosystems is a case of single-species myopia regarding wildlife control,” states the letter, signed by Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, and Scott Edwards, general counsel for the Center for a Humane Economy.

Federal wildlife officials defend the action as necessary to manage the population of barred owls, considered invasive, and to safeguard the threatened northern spotted owl population. The proposal also aims to address declines in the California spotted owl population, which faces pressure from the larger and more aggressive barred owl in the Sierra Nevada region.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the extirpation of northern spotted owls from significant portions of their historical range is likely without intervention, citing recent demographic analyses.

The northern spotted owl, smaller and more selective in its habitat and diet, faces significant declines, while barred owls, native to the eastern U.S., have shown resilience and adaptability in the Pacific Northwest.

While there is consensus on the vulnerability of native owl populations, critics argue that lethal removal of barred owls is not the solution. They advocate for nonlethal methods, such as habitat protection, to support spotted owl recovery.

Opponents of the plan raise concerns about the potential for unintended consequences, including the mistaken killing of protected species. They also highlight the risk of lead poisoning from ammunition used by hunters, a concern compounded by California’s ban on lead ammunition for hunting.

Tom Wheeler, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center, challenges the assertions made by critics, arguing that the proposal includes measures to mitigate risks and prevent accidental shootings of protected species.

While acknowledging the moral complexities of the issue, Wheeler emphasizes the urgency of action to prevent the extinction of the northern spotted owl. He calls for more aggressive measures to address the threat posed by barred owls while balancing conservation efforts for both species.