Killing 60,000 to 100,000 barred owls across a portion of the West would permit the spotted owl population to rise to about 8,400, officials say.

Officials said northern spotted owl populations in the northern half of the species’ range ‒ where barred owls have moved in most aggressively ‒ have dropped by more than 75% in 20 years.

It's part of an effort to save their smaller, threatened cousin, the northern spotted owl. The federal government finalized the plan over the summer after years of discussion.

In Oregon between 1995 and 2017, spotted owl populations in high density owl territory declined by up to 75%. In Washington, some spotted owl territories saw population declines of up to 80% ...

But doesn't it sound morally wrong to attempt to save one species by genociding others? In order to save spotted owls, the federal government plans to kill 500,000 other owls.

If the spotted owl sounds familiar, it's probably because this problem was Supposed to have been solved already — back in the 1990s.

FILE - Barred owls from the east have moved in and taken over spotted owl habitat in the western forests of Oregon, and are now pushing spotted owls closer and closer to extinction. Nick Fisher ...

TOPICS: Owl-killing Trump administration Barred owls Spotted owls Lawmakers Wildlife advocates Environmental outcomes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ...

Barred owls, with their vivid brown stripes, are acting like bullies of the forest in the Northwest, driving their smaller cousins, the northern spotted owl, to the brink of extinction. Once ...

A Central Pennsylvania animal rescue organization is urging residents to remove tape used to trap spotted lanternflies on tree trunks after an owl recently became entangled and was injured.

The documents reveal that the agency aims to remove around 450,000 barred owls, including barred-spotted owl hybrids, over a 30-year period.