The Fish and Wildlife Service's plan to cull thousands of barred owls in the Pacific Northwest raises ethical questions about human intervention in ecosystems. How do we decide which species to target?
Field experiments indicate that shooting barred owls might slow the spotted owl's extinction, but the shooting could continue indefinitely, as there is no definitive 'end point' to this intervention.
Stephen Pruett-Jones remarks on the ecological difference between barred owls and spotted owls, noting their varied diets and calls, underscoring the complexity of their interrelation.
Calls to protect diverse species have led to extreme measures; in this case, killing one owl species to save another highlights the urgent yet contentious nature of wildlife management.
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