The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking public input regarding the threat of barred owls to native northern and California spotted owls.
The agency said populations of the threatened northern spotted owl are rapidly declining as a result of habitat loss and competition with barred owls.
“We’ve been working with partners to manage northern and California spotted owl habitat for years, but we also urgently need a management tool that addresses the increasing barred owl threat,” said Kessina Lee, state supervisor for USFWS’ Oregon office.
The draft plan recommends actions to reduce barred owl populations in certain areas of the northern spotted owl’s range. A 60-day comment period will be held once the notice is published in the Federal Register later in November. Comments may be submitted at regulations.gov by searching for docket ID FWS-R1-ES-2022-0074.
