BLM Announces Plan To Protect Northern Spotted Owl

The Bureau of Land Management has finalized its plan to kill barred owls to save the northern spotted owl.  BLM said northern spotted owl populations are rapidly declining, and its two biggest threats are competition from invasive barred owls, as well as fire and drought-related habitat loss.

Although barred owls are native to eastern North America, they moved west due to human activity. Their population now surpasses northern spotted owls across most of Washington, Oregon, and California. Barred owls are bigger and more aggressive and frequently outcompete native spotted owls for nesting spots and prey.

“Northern spotted owls are at a tipping point, and both barred owls and habitat have to be managed to save them,” said Barry Bushue, BLM Oregon/Washington state director. “If we act now, future generations will still be able to see and hear northern spotted owls in our Pacific Northwest forests.”

BLM says tests of barred owl removals showed they are successful in helping the Northern spotted owl survive.  There won't be a hunting season for barred owls; only hunters trained to know the difference between the two species will be allowed to kill the barred owls.

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