U.S. Wildlife Officials Plan to Kill Nearly 450,000 Barred Owls

U.S. wildlife officials plan to deploy trained shooters to kill almost half a million barred owls that are crowding out their smaller cousins. This move aims to save the endangered spotted owl species on the verge of extinction. Surveillance shooters will be deployed in the dense forests of the western coast.

The barred owl is larger, aggressive, adaptable, and compete opportunistic hunter. Due to these traits, they are competing with the spotted owl’s food source, disrupting nesting, and pushing the spotted owls out of their territory. Unfortunately, the northern spotted owl is not the only species at risk due to the rising number of barred owls on the West Coast.

Population

The global population of owls is estimated to be between 4,000,000 and 9,999,999 mature individuals, but the exact number is difficult to determine. Some owl populations include:

• Bearded screech owl: 20,000 - 49,999
• Biak scops owl: 15,000 – 45,000
• Blakiston’s fish owl: 15,000 – 3,750

Conflict Between Opinions

Wildlife advocates and protectors are divided over the decision to kill one bird species to save another. Some people accepted the decision to kill the owls even though they did not want to. According to Vein Pakele, an advocate of an animal wellness group, those who are protectors of animals are now becoming their predators. He predicted that this scheme would fail as it would not be able to stop the barred owls.

Similar Incident

The Kenyan government also vowed to kill a million Indian crows in the next six months. The increased population of crows has created many problems for Kenya, including:

• Threat to Local Birds: Their population continuously decreases as crows kill birds and eat their eggs.
• Attacks on Small Animals: Crows attack small animals, reptiles, and baby goats. They also eat chicks in poultry farms.
• Agricultural Damage: Crows cause damage by eating seeds and fruits, resulting in significant losses for farmers.
• Tourist Nuisance: Crows have become a nuisance for tourists visiting New Delhi, troubling them with their dirt and stealing food from their plates.
• Aviation Hazard: The increased crow population poses a danger near airports, increasing the risk of accidents due to bird strikes.

These days, such issues have become common problems for countries. However, killing them can create an imbalance in the ecosystem and food chain, posing a future danger to humans.