Editor,
As a wildlife biologist who studied spotted owls for three decades, I would like to clarify a few misconceptions brought up by Elizabeth Olson in her letter (Mailbox, Oct. 24) regarding Kimberly Wear’s article on the USFWS barred owl management strategy (“Combating the Barred Owl Invasion,” Oct. 10). Kimberly’s article was a good summary of the issue and there was no need for investigative journalism as the barred owl management plan was developed with the best available science. It certainly is a controversial issue, and many have developed their own opinion on the issue and the proposed strategy to manage the barred owl impacts. But opinions on the issue should be based on facts, not misconceptions and misinformation.
Olson states that spotted owls tend to like the barred owl and often choose them as a mate. While the two species occasionally pair up and produce offspring, that is very uncommon. Studies have documented the vocal and physical aggression the two species use when encountering each other.
She also states that barred owls are better at teaching young to hunt in the decimated landscape resulting from clearcutting. Barred owls are also forest dwelling owls, which is why they compete with spotted owls. Barred owls prefer similar forested areas as spotted owls. If spotted owl habitat disappeared, so would most barred owl habitat. While barred and spotted owls will hybridize, it is uncommon and counting on hybrid owls to help preserve some spotted owl genetics is misplaced hopefulness. Spotted owls are protected under the ESA, but hybrid owls are not. Thus, once the spotted owl goes extinct, the habitat protections provided under the ESA could disappear. As Ken Burton’s thoughtful letter (Mailbox, Oct. 24) points out, Kimberly’s article also addresses the larger impact of barred owls on other species and the ecosystem. It is definitely not just an owl-versus-owl situation.
Peter Carlson, Arcata
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Combating the Barred Owl Invasion
This article appears in ‘Doing its Part’.
Hi Peter: I’m not sure about the idea of barred owls being better teachers than their spotted cousins, but I do know that numerous successful spotted owl, barred owl, and sparred owl matings have been documented since the late 1980s. 35+ years and several owl generations. Not so much data on the supposed “aggressiveness” issue. And to be clear, it is very normal for members of the same species to be aggressive toward one another, and maybe particularly when mating — or attempted mating — is involved. Some well-known examples include people, elk, lions, and chickens. Here is what I wrote on the topic and was printed earlier today: https://www.capitalpress.com/opinion/colum…