The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants hunters to kill 500,000 Barred Owls over the next 30 years. Barred Owls are vital as they control populations of rodents and help to balance the ecosystem. The decision to deem a species as "invasive" and create a culling program is barbaric and unethical. Other similar programs have killed thriving animals and placed them on the endangered list, such as the Grey Wolf.

Barred Owls were once regional to the East Coast and have since relocated throughout the west. They are considered a native species in the United States. They are not known for migrating and tend to stay within six miles of their homes. One theory proposes that their reason for relocation was due to encroachment on their natural habitat and deforestation by the logging industry. This does not show aggression of a species. It is simply survival. This Barred Owl in the photo above was perched on a tree next to my family for over twenty minutes. It was of no threat to us.

Barred Owls are known for being one of the more vocal owls with a distinctive call that sounds like, "I cook for you" or peals of laughter. Their fossil record dates back to 11,000 years ago. Hunters should not be allowed to shoot Barred Owls. Owls are hard to identify. The likelihood of shooting other owls is high. There will be an increase in the rodent population and more incidence of disease. It's not too late to have the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reconsider their proposed plan. The hunting of 500,000 Barred Owls is an eradication program, not a viable solution.