Let’s Shoot Owls to Protect Owls

BEACON TRANSCRIPT – A scientists from the United States managed to write yet another chapter in the book on preservation. In an attempt to save the fleeting northern spotted owl, the scientists, armed with his wits and a shotgun started to shoot off barred owls. Basically, this is a let’s shoots owls to protect owls to protect owls situation.

We are all aware of the fact that many species of animals, birds included, are on the brink of becoming distant memories. Each day, more and more species of animals are faced with the possibility of extinction. And the reason why this happened and will happen is not hard to deduce: man.

We hacked our way through the woods, hunted entire species to extinction, relocated, polluted, all in the name of civilization. And now, we are faced with the dire consequences of our own actions. Still, there are several societies out there who do everything they can in order to protect endangered species, the US Fish, and Wildlife Service being one of them.

As others develop an intricate strategy to repair the off-set balance, other tend to think that only a radical solution could put an end to a dire problem.

Lowell Diller is a biologist and a contractor working for the Green Diamond Resource Company, a lumbering company which handles the lumbering contracts for Trinity, Del Norte, and Humboldt. Recently, the US biologist and researcher came up with a plan to counter the threat faced by the northern spotted owl.

As we know, the northern spotted owl has become a symbol in the fight against abusive lumbering. This gentle, teddy-bear-like owl is now facing extinction, but not at the hand of man. Instead, another species of owls is now threatening the northern spotted owl.

According to a report published by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the barred owl is bullying the northern spotted owl into extinction. Moreover, it would seem that the barred owl has begun to take over the northern owl’s territories. The same report said that this bullying has forced the northern spotted owl to migrate further north.

Meanwhile, the barred owl population is spreading south, pushing towards the city of San Francisco. Considering the fact that the number of northern spotted owls has decreased by 12 percent each year, Diller thought that more radical measures must be employed in order to prevent their extinction.

In 2009, the biologist learned that a fellow researcher obtained a hunting permit. This allowed him to harvest barred owls. Of course, Diller applied for the permit, which he later obtained.

Since 2009, Diller performed a most unusual experiment in a forest. Over the course of 4 years, Diller shot every barred owl he could find in a part of the forest, and left them alone in another area.

He noted that after 4 years, the northern owls returned to the first part of the forest.

As expected, there are many researcher and conservationist who doubt the morality behind Diller’s experiment. Moreover, Shawn Cantrell, the director of an NGO, said that Diller’s approach is only meant for short-terms.

Instead of going on a shooting rampage, why don’t we try to save both species of owl by fixing the forest and by replanting trees? Because this antagonism between the two species of owls began when the barred owls were driven out of their natural habitat.

In conclusion, let’s shoot owls to protect owls might not be the smartest approach to the conservation scheme.

Photo credits:www.public-domain-image.com