In a bizarre article the protection of Spotted owls will include the shooting of another species.
The barred owl is larger than the spotted owl and apparently more of a thereat to their survival than logging which will continue in these areas.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- To save the endangered spotted owl, the Obama administration is moving forward with a plan to shoot barred owls, a rival bird that has shoved its smaller cousin aside.
The plan is the latest government attempt to protect the northern spotted owl, the meek, one-pound bird that sparked an epic battle over logging in the Pacific Northwest two decades ago.
Of course the spotted owl would not be threatened if logging was not in the picture. Now the Barred owl is literally under the gun too.
Barred Owl:
Spotted Owl:
Northern spotted owl populations have been suffering primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation, but competition with the barred owl has become an increasing threat to the smaller and more habitat-sensitive northern spotted owl. FWS has three goals for the removal project. The first is to return the populations to numbers suitable for removal from the threatened list. Secondly to determine the effects barred owl removal would have on northern spotted owl’s survival, reproduction, and habitat occupancy. The last is to evaluate the feasibility of large scale removal of the barred owl as well as the cost of the undertaking. In order to perform these analyses FWS has proposed three applied research approaches. FWS will establish designated areas where the barred owl is not removed, serving as the control. Elsewhere FWS will remove the barred owl through lethal methods, as well as by relocation and placement in captivity. Once the research is complete the implication of developing a removal plan can be understood and FWS will undertake further management options.