Hello @secondotter. I would like to say I have read your comment, and it seems you have misinterpreted my opinion piece as a personal attack. I encourage you to do your own research and form your own opinion, but please dont spew this kind of negativity. I will do my best to address your points, most of which are false and completely baseless.
"I would like to see the data supporting the theory that eradicating Barred Owls has a beneficial effect on Spotted Owls": https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2102859118 There are many more studies where this came from. Its scientifically proven.
"I would like to see the hard evidence of Barreds eating Spotteds": I NEVER said that they ate them. There have been first hand observations, some by people I know quite closely and trust, of Barred actively killing Spotted and other native owl species. I am not sure any of this has been published.
"Once they've eradicated Barreds, does the F&W believe that Spotteds will then rebound": Precisely so, its not a belief, its a fact and scientifically proven. There are more out there then people think, they're one tough bird, the gene pool is not to shallow.
"Calling the F&W department 'experts' is ludicrous.": Who are the experts then? Certainly not you or me, I would say that the people who have devoted their lives to studying Spotties are the experts here, and they are the ones who made this decision.
"This isn't science. THis isn't even logic.": I'm not sure what your definition of science is but it seems to be rather flawed? This is well supported by decades long studies. I highly recommend that you actually read them before claiming that they dont exist.
And to say that only a few Barreds will be removed and only in a remote part of the Olympic peninsula where Spotteds are nesting is wrong, too": I NEVER said that. And what you say about Seattle animal control is not true at all, Barred are and always will be protected, USFWS will need a take permit to remove them.
"And what makes anyone think that barreds will stay away from Spotted habitat": They wont, thats why they need to be removed. Your example of Capitol Forest is not ideal, there has only ever been one Spotted Owl in Capitol Forest (the summer and fall of 2009) and it was driven there when its territory in the Willipas was logged, That bird had GPS tracking on it which is how we know this.
"Saying 'they' won't kill 'my' barred owl": It seems your definition of gaslighting is flawed as well, I encourage you not to misuse that term as it caries alot of weight with it. Its odd you would accuse a 16 year old of gaslighting an adult man in an opinion piece article that in no way has anything to do with you.
I would like to say that humans are completely responsible": yes, I completely agree. That is why it is our responsibility to right what we've done, and whether we like it or not, that is removing Barred Owls which are here because of us.
Please explain the inappropriate content below.
