The Trump administration has canceled grants for a plan approved in the Biden era to cull barred owls to protect the endangered northern spotted owl. Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, lauded this decision, advocating instead for habitat protections over cullings. Meanwhile, wildlife biologist Mark Higley argues that unchecked barred owl populations threaten the spotted owl's existence. The debate reflects ongoing tensions since the spotted owl gained protections under the Endangered Species Act in 1990, affecting both logging activities and conservation efforts.
"It's basically a completely unprecedented massacre of birds of prey," Pacelle said. But the move by Trump officials dismayed other wildlife advocates, who said the jarring plan is nonetheless necessary to save the spotted owl.
"If we don't manage the barred owl population, the spotted owl will go extinct," said Mark Higley, an influential wildlife biologist for the Hoopa Valley Tribe, whose reservation is about 30 miles northeast of Eureka.
"The science is pretty clear on that. The spotted owl is nothing short of iconic." The fierce politics surrounding the small brown raptor, speckled with white spots, continue to ignite tensions.
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