Barred Owls

[kme3388]

Plan to kill 450,000 owls creates odd political bedfellows — loggers and environmentalists

GOP legislators and animal rights activists have sought to stop a plan to cull barred owls to save spotted owls. The timber industry has joined environmentalists in raising the alarm about consequences if it doesn't happen.

www.latimes.com

Has anyone else been following this, and understands invasive species, and how that affects the native owls? Especially since they aren’t killing each other.

No, I am not political. I just am trying to understand the entire situation. My brain is misfiring/confused.

 

[Jcas]

This is… bizarre. I live in a rural area and I’m totally pro hunting and have seen the devastating effects of certain species of animals outgrowing their available habitat. Based on what I can find, that is not what’s going on here and this “ plan” strikes me as totally ludicrous. The Barred owls aren’t invasive. They are a native North American species who are simply expanding their range. This happens in nature. Killing the Barred Owls in no way guarantees that the Spotted Owls will proliferate. More likely, more Barred owls will just move into the vacated territory because they are a more adaptable species. I hate animals going extinct and definitely want to see steps taken to conserve Spotted owls but Barred owl’s don’t seem to be real culprit. Rather, the logging industry destroying owl habitat strikes me as the major problem. But that’s when things do start to get political. I’m not anti logging either but I think they could do a more conscientious job of it. Regardless, I can’t wrap my head around how killing a bunch of Barred owls will solve anything. There doesn’t seem to be any sort of precedent suggesting it would work. A recent article does state that this action is still being debated. What a crazy situation.

 

[kme3388]

This is… bizarre. I live in a rural area and I’m totally pro hunting and have seen the devastating effects of certain species of animals outgrowing their available habitat. Based on what I can find, that is not what’s going on here and this “ plan” strikes me as totally ludicrous. The Barred owls aren’t invasive. They are a native North American species who are simply expanding their range. This happens in nature. Killing the Barred Owls in no way guarantees that the Spotted Owls will proliferate. More likely, more Barred owls will just move into the vacated territory because they are a more adaptable species. I hate animals going extinct and definitely want to see steps taken to conserve Spotted owls but Barred owl’s don’t seem to be real culprit. Rather, the logging industry destroying owl habitat strikes me as the major problem. But that’s when things do start to get political. I’m not anti logging either but I think they could do a more conscientious job of it. Regardless, I can’t wrap my head around how killing a bunch of Barred owls will solve anything. There doesn’t seem to be any sort of precedent suggesting it would work. A recent article does state that this action is still being debated. What a crazy situation.

Thank you for the education. My mind is just exploding trying to understand this situation. These 2 owls even mate. I’ve tried to think about maybe someone not wanting a dirty bloodline. I can’t come up with any reasoning. I’m just flabbergasted.

 

[kme3388]

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/10/29/congress/senate-supports-owl-killing-plan-00628599

It looks like it will be taking place. I wish I knew more of the details. I usually don’t just believe an article. The person writing it may know nothing of the subject, and misspoke that killing one owl will save another as the whole purpose.

 

[Jcas]

This is just nuts. I can’t figure out how it makes sense. I can’t help but think that the people voting on this know next to nothing about how animals and nature work…

 

[kme3388]

I feel so useless as I’m not well educated in the eco system to even comment. Killing 450,000 owls is a lot. I feel like depending on the article I’m reading that the “science” contradicts itself. For an example one article will state the barred owl’s presence alone is effecting the spotted owl. Implying that the barred owl intimidates the spotted owl. I have another article talking about them cross breeding. It’s really hard to educate yourself this way.