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Tell our Congresspersons to vote YES on H.J.R. 111 / S.J.R. 69 (vote is happening in September) and stop the barred owl massacre!

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service intends to move forward with a deeply troubling plan to slaughter more than 450,000 barred owls over the next 30 years in Washington, Oregon, and California — a misguided and ethically indefensible attempt to ostensibly aid spotted owls. For every spotted owl still in existence, roughly 30 barred owls would be shot.  The killing method, disturbingly nicknamed  by some, “hoot and shoot,” involves luring barred owls with recorded calls before gunning them down. All with our taxpayer dollars!

The true cause of spotted owl decline is decades of habitat destruction, particularly the large-scale logging of old-growth forests. Wildfires and habitat fragmentation also threaten spotted owls—as well as other wildlife.

Instead of addressing the root causes of ecological collapse, this plan scapegoats a wild species in a violent and short-sighted response. True conservation must prioritize habitat protection and ecosystem restoration — not mass killing.

Another reason to oppose this plan is that it's extremely difficult to differentiate between a barred owl and a spotted owl.

“This is a billion-dollar scheme to assault and kill nearly half a million forest owls native only to North America and long protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “The vastness of the geography makes the kill plan thoroughly impractical, and the billion-dollar cost of contracting with paid shooters who will invade our national parks and wilderness areas is unbearable.”

Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint have not yet supported bills H.J.R. 111 / S.J.R. 69 that would thwart the mass killing of barred owls.  For these resolutions to officially block the plan, they must pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by the President.

We must ask Senators Sanders, Welch & Rep. Balint to put their full weight behind H.J.R. 111 / S.J.R. 69  to stop the senseless slaughter of barred owls. They must know that Vermonters are counting on them!

From Otter Creek Wildlife Rescue in Vermont:

"We have cared for dozens of orphaned and injured barred owls over 13 years of running our wildlife rehabilitation facility here in Vermont. Barred owls are smart, gentle, utterly charming birds. Their family ties are strong, and they are devoted parents to their young.  In rehab, we’ve cared for 26 barred owls at a time, living together in our main aviary. They are gentle and welcoming with each new intake; they graciously share food and perching sites with each other, and some of the owls we have released here still come back to visit even years later. Please make every effort to protect these wonderful owls from slaughter. "