Defending Barred Owls
Working to stop the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's unprecedented Barred Owl Kill Plan that we believe is scientifically flawed, ethically indefensible, and unlikely to solve the real problems facing spotted owls.
The Federal Plan to Kill Barred Owls
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is implementing a drastic plan to kill up to 450,000 barred owls over 30 years across the Pacific Northwest — a program that is costly, unworkable, and inhumane. North American natives, barred owls have long been protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Yet the agency has foolishly proceeded with this unprecedented plan to assault North American forest owls. Never has any nation conducted such an immense slaughter of native birds of prey.
The federal government has chosen to play god and wage war on one native owl species in hopes of saving another.
We’re refusing to stand by while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service implements this unprecedented killing campaign that we believe to be scientifically flawed, ethically indefensible, and unlikely to solve the real problems facing spotted owls.
Challenging the FWS Barred Owl Kill Plan
We’re fighting this plan on multiple fronts. Our legal team is challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in court while we continue building public opposition, educating policymakers, and advancing practical, non-lethal alternatives that protect wildlife without resorting to mass killing.
We have also united hundreds of wildlife, conservation, and animal protection organizations in opposition to this reckless, cruel plan.
Learn About Our Barred Owl Campaign
We’re Taking the Fight for America’s Owls to the American People
Don’t Blame Animals for Adapting to Changes Wrought by an Immense Human Footprint
The Federal Government’s Plan to Kill Barred Owls Is a Scam
House Passes FDA Modernization Act 3.0, Clearing the Way for a New Era of Human-Relevant Science
Our Court Clash with the Fish and Wildlife Service Over Its Unworkable, Inhumane, Diabolical Scheme to Kill North American Forest Owls
Our New Plans to Protect Owls and Forests Won’t Work Without You
Senate Turns Back Sen. John Kennedy’s Heroic Plea for Sparing Owls
U.S. Senate Rejects Resolution to Halt Unprecedented, Unworkable, Billion-Dollar Kill Plan of North American Owls
Our Research and Investigation Uncover Collusion by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Timber Industry to Kill Owls
U.S. Senate Should Pass Resolution to Disapprove Unprecedented, Unworkable, Billion-Dollar Kill Plan of North American owls
It’s the Moment of Truth for Barred Owls in the U.S. Senate
Breaking News: Federal Government Racing Ahead with Plan to Start Shooting Thousands of Owls in September
Rationale for Barred Owl ‘Hoot and Shoot’ Cannot Withstand Careful Examination
Animal Wellness Action Applauds Introduction of U.S. Senate Resolution to Spare Half a Million Barred Owls and a Billion in Taxpayer Funds
Government Declares ‘Forever War’ Against North American Forest Owls
Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy Applaud Bipartisan Congressional Effort to Nullify Barred Owl Slaughter Plan
Trump Administration Terminates Key Grants Supporting Biden Administration Plan to Kill Nearly 500,000 Barred Owls
Congress Taking Steps to Address Costly, Inhumane, and Unworkable Plan to Kill Nearly Half a Million Barred Owls
Twenty Members of Congress Tell Interior Secretary to Suspend Billion-Dollar “Hoot and Shoot” Plan to Kill Half a Million Barred Owls
Republican and Democratic Lawmakers Call on Interior Secretary to Nix Barred Owl Kill Plan as Too Expensive, Unworkable, Inhumane
Bipartisan Group of Oregon Lawmakers Urge the DOGE to Nix Biden Administration’s Barred Owl Massacre
Price Tag for U.S. Fish and Wildlife ‘Barred Owl Management Plan’ May Be $1.35 Billion, Based on New Financial Analysis
Animal Welfare Groups Call on Leaders at Redwoods, Yosemite, and Other California-Based National Parks to Reject Scheme to Open Up Barred Owl Hunting
Animal Welfare Groups Call on Leaders at Crater Lake and Oregon Caves to Reject Fish and Wildlife Service Scheme to Open National Parks and Monuments to Barred Owl Hunting
Animal Welfare Groups Call on Leaders at Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades National Parks to Reject USFWS Plan to Open Iconic National Parks to Barred Owl Hunting
On the Federal Government’s Plan to Slaughter Barred Owls, We Tell Wildlife Agency We’ll See You in Court
Animal Welfare Groups File Lawsuit Against Ill-Conceived, Unworkable Federal Scheme to Slaughter 470,000 Barred Owls
Animal Wellness Action, Other Animal Welfare and Birding Groups Condemn Inhumane, Unworkable Fish and Wildlife Service Plan to Kill 450,000 Barred Owls
Federal Plan to Massacre Native Barred Owls Impractical, Costly, and Cruel
Animal Wellness and Other Groups Condemn Biden Administration for Costly, Unworkable, Inhumane Plan to Massacre 450,000 Barred Owls
Video Statement by Washington State Public Lands Commissioner Urges Feds to Abandon Plan to Kill a Half-Million Barred Owls in Pacific Northwest
Washington State Public Lands Chief Criticizes Federal Plan to Kill a Half-Million Barred Owls in Pacific Northwest
Federal Plan to Massacre Native Barred Owls Impractical, Costly, and Cruel
Federal plan to Shoot Half-Million Barred Owls Impractical and Inhumane and a Prescription for Incidental Kills of Up to 15 Other Owl Species
FACT SHEET: Fish and Wildlife Service Hatches Unworkable, Inhumane, Wasteful Plan to Slaughter Barred Owls, download here
William S. Lynn argues the plan is scientifically ineffective and ethically wrong. | download here
Michelle Lute urges habitat protection and coexistence instead of lethal control. | download here
Kent Livezey argues the killing would be costly, endless, and ineffective. | download here
Anja Heister calls for nonlethal, compassionate conservation. | download here
Daniel Blumstein argues barred owls will simply recolonize treated areas. | download here
Jonathan Balcombe calls the mass killing ecologically unsound and ethically repugnant. | download here
Michael Nelson.pdf — Michael Nelson argues the plan reflects ecological hubris and misplaced priorities. | download here
Mark Davis argues barred owls are now permanent residents and cannot realistically be eliminated. | download here
Alexandre Roulin argues the cull is unlikely to work and raises serious ethical concerns. | download here
It's Do or Die for Barred Owls | 10-24-25
Stop the Barred Owl Massacre
Actions to Take
Other Campaigns