The opposition’s plan to kill 500,000 barred owls for us clears a major problem
To save western spotted owls (Strix Occidentalis Caurina) From extinction, US fisheries and wildlife agencies plan to kill 450,000 barred owlsTrix Varia) across California, Oregon, and Washington. The Conservation Management Strategy, announced last year, broke the moral debate that had recently been playing out on the Senate floor.
On October 29, Senator John Kennedy (R-La) tried to prevent taxpayers estimated at 10 1.35 billion in more than 30 years – by bringing this issue with a joint issue under the act of joint review under the law of the analysis of DRME. The legislation failed by 25 to 72 votes.
“Barred owls don’t hurt anybody. They’re just doing what you tell them to do,” Kennedy said. “We’re going to change the environment? We’re going to control our environment so far? We’re going to overtake Dei with the owls?”
In case you’re wondering how the Senate was able to vote on this government shutdown, because the act of concurrence review is always in effect by law during the end of the budget.
Owl vs owl
The USFW has been fighting to save Northern spotted owls in our west for decades. The authorities first listed the subspecies as threatened in 1990, citing the loss experienced and the lack of conservation laws.
Today, the biggest threat to northern spotted owls in California, Oregon and Washington is the introduction of illegal barred owls, according to the USFWS. Between 1995 and 2017, barred owls were the primary driver of the 65% to 85% decline in northern spotted owls overall.
Experts believe that barred owls began to expand their traditional eastern range in the 20th century, perhaps driven by habitat loss as Europeans settled in the east. This species is larger, more aggressive, and more flexible than the northern spotted owl. As the two compete for food, shelter, and grazing areas, spotted owls lose out.
The USFWS program aims to halt the decline of the spotted owl by exterminating barred owls from designated areas. That doesn’t mean it’s open season on barred owls. The lethal removal will be carried out by people trained to identify members of the species and shoot them.
“Removal of Predators” is a proven conservation strategy, but the agency’s proposal has raised questions about the morality of killing one species to save another.
A divisive issue
The USFWS originally started the program under a bid, but the Trump administration is supporting it under pressure from conservationists who oppose existing land use plans, thus undermining the GOP’s efforts to increase logging, political reports.
The Venate Vote on October 29 revealed a rare split between the Trump Administration and some Republicans. According to the watchdog, officials had encouraged Kennedy and other GOP members to sponsor the petition. And yet, the majority of votes were in favor of Kennedy’s amendment.
Activists were similarly divided on this issue. Some say the Owl Coul ban is a necessary measure to prevent the extinction of the northern spotted owl, while others say the plan is cruel and unnecessary and could have unintended ecosystem consequences.
Critics have also pointed out that the government is dealing with owls that have been unfairly banned from human-caused causes that put owls at risk, such as land use change and climate change.
Despite the controversy and challenges, the USFWS denied Owl management plan will now move forward. It is not yet clear whether the cullet will start.
