US Wildlife Officials Plan Extensive Culling of Barred Owls to Protect Spotted Owls

The initiative aims to save the threatened spotted owl species in West Coast forests by reducing competition from invasive barred owls.

Nearly 450,000 barred owls will be targeted over three decades.
The plan has divided wildlife advocates and conservationists.
Barred owls have outcompeted spotted owls for food and habitat.
Past conservation efforts focused on forest protection, but barred owl proliferation has undermined this.
Opponents argue the plan could disrupt forest ecosystems and may be unfeasible.