DEI for the birds? US government to kill 450K owls on West Coast to thwart rival owl’s extinction
The US government has begun a large-scale effort to cull up to 450,000 barred owls across California, Oregon, and Washington in an attempt to prevent the extinction of the endangered northern spotted owl.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service finalized the project last year, estimating the effort could cost taxpayers $1.35 billion over the next 30 years. The plan has sparked an extended ethical debate in Washington, DC.
Last month, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) attempted to block the initiative by bringing a joint resolution to a vote, but it failed to secure enough support.
“The barred owls are not hurting anybody,” Kennedy said. “They’re just doing what nature teaches them to do. We’re going to change nature? We’re going to control our environment to this extent? We’re going to pass DEI for owls?”
Barred owls, which are larger and more aggressive than their spotted counterparts, have contributed to a 65% to 85% decline in spotted owl populations between 1995 and 2017. As their eastern habitats have been destroyed by development, barred owls have migrated west, competing for nesting grounds and food sources.
The northern spotted owl has been listed as a threatened species since 1990, and conservationists argue the culling is necessary to preserve the species. Trained personnel will be hired to identify and remove barred owls from key habitats.
Supporters of the plan say the culling is a crucial step to maintain biodiversity and protect an iconic species, while critics question the morality of killing one species to save another and debate the role of human intervention in natural ecosystems.
About Post Author
