House bill aims to halt owl culling plan

A Controversial Plan to Protect Spotted Owls Faces Legislative Challenges

A new legislative effort has emerged in the U.S. Congress aimed at halting a controversial plan to manage the population of barred owls in the Pacific Northwest. The initiative, introduced by Rep. Troy E. Nehls, a Republican from Texas, has gained support from 17 co-sponsors across both major political parties. If successful, the resolution could mark the end of a long-standing strategy to protect the declining spotted owl species.

The plan in question involves the controlled elimination of approximately 450,000 barred owls over a 30-year period in California, Oregon, and Washington. Wildlife officials argue that this measure is necessary because barred owls are outcompeting the native spotted owls for resources and territory. The spotted owl, once a symbol of environmental conservation, is now facing a rapid decline. Northern spotted owls are classified as threatened under both California and federal endangered species laws, with some estimates suggesting there may be as few as 3,000 individuals left on federal lands.

Federal agencies have proposed additional protections for two populations of California spotted owls. However, the current management plan, approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Biden administration, has drawn criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups alike.

Cost and Ethical Concerns

Rep. Nehls has been vocal in his opposition to the plan, calling it "a waste of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars." He estimates the total cost of the program could reach $1.35 billion, based on a $4.5-million contract awarded to the Hoopa Valley Tribe in Northern California last year to hunt about 1,500 barred owls over four years. That translates to roughly $3,000 per owl, according to Nehls’ calculations.

The bipartisan resolution argues that the culling method is not only costly but also inhumane and impractical. Among the co-sponsors are 11 Republicans and six Democrats, including three California representatives: Josh Harder (D-Tracy), Adam Gray (D-Merced), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles). The resolution leverages the Congressional Review Act, a tool often used by new administrations to overturn rules issued by previous ones.

In late May, the Government Accountability Office concluded that the owl-culling plan was subject to the Congressional Review Act. To stop the plan, both chambers of Congress would need to pass a joint resolution by a majority vote, and the president would need to sign it. If passed, the resolution would prevent the Fish and Wildlife Service from implementing a similar rule unless explicitly authorized by Congress.

Setbacks and Scientific Debate

The plan has already faced several setbacks. In May, federal officials canceled three related grants totaling more than $1.1 million, including one study that would have removed barred owls from over 192,000 acres in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Another grant would have targeted the Mendocino National Forest.

Despite these challenges, some scientists and conservationists argue that abandoning the plan could lead to the extinction of the northern spotted owl. These birds, known for their dark brown feathers and bright white spots, prefer old-growth forests. They became a central figure in the so-called "timber wars" of the 1980s and 1990s, when environmentalists and logging interests clashed over the preservation of ancient forests.

Barred owls, which originated in eastern North America, expanded westward as European settlers planted trees and suppressed wildfires. Biologists believe this migration led to their presence in the Pacific Northwest. While government scientists classify them as invasive, some argue that their movement is part of natural range expansion.

Diverging Opinions on the Plan

Opponents of the culling plan argue that it is neither ethical nor practical to target other native wildlife to protect the spotted owl. Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and Center for a Humane Economy, has criticized the approach, stating, "Protecting spotted owls is an imperative, but assaulting other native wildlife occupying the same forests is not ethical or a practical means of achieving that goal."

On the other hand, supporters of the plan point to long-term field experiments that show spotted owl populations stabilized in areas where barred owls were removed. Tom Wheeler, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center, warned that without the culling, the northern spotted owl could face extinction, along with the California spotted owl.

As the debate continues, the future of the spotted owl—and the broader ecological balance of the Pacific Northwest—remains uncertain.