The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is suggesting the deployment of marksmen to eliminate over 500,000 barred owls in the Pacific Northwest over the next three decades.

This proposal aims to protect the habitat of the northern spotted owl, a species under protection.

While barred owls are originally from the East Coast, their presence in the Northwest has been expanding since the 1950s.

Recognized as voracious predators, they consume a wide range of prey, from worms and salamanders to birds in flight, aquatic life such as fish and snails, as well as terrestrial creatures like slugs, ArcaMax reported.

Larger, more aggressive, and territorial compared to the northern spotted owl, barred owls pose a threat to the latter’s survival, designated as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

The draft environmental impact statement outlines the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s strategy for reducing barred owl populations within the northern spotted owl’s range in Washington and Oregon.

The plan also seeks to prevent the expansion of barred owls into the habitat of the California spotted owl.

Written & Edited by B.C. Begley

*The following content has been automatically generated by an AI system and should be used for informational purposes only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk. We recommend seeking qualified expertise or conducting further research to validate and supplement the information provided.