In the heart of the Pacific Northwest, a dramatic battle is unfolding in the ancient forests. Here, two owl species — the Barred Owl and the Northern Spotted Owl — are engaged in a high-stakes struggle for survival.
If you’re ever out in the woods and hear, “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?,” you are listening to a Barred Owl. This large, round-headed bird, originally native to the eastern United States, began its westward migration in the mid-20th century. It flew across the entire Great Plains region by moving from one forest patch — —including river valleys, towns, and upland tree plantings — to another. Its range expansion has led to a significant ecological shift, placing it in direct competition with the Northern Spotted Owl.
The Northern Spotted Owl, known for its distinctive call that resembles a small dog barking, has long thrived in the old-growth forests of the Sierra Nevada and coastal Pacific regions. In fact, you may hear their call here in Marin when you go to bed. Owls are amazing nocturnal creatures, but given the sheer variety of species, the presence of one owl can be extremely detrimental to another.
And as it turns out, Barred Owls have a huge genetic advantage over Spotted Owls.
For one, the Barred Owl is larger, more aggressive, and faster-reproducing.
"Barred Owls exhibit more aggressive behaviors towards s\Spotted Owls, outcompeting them for nesting sites and food resources" said Robin Brown, a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Barred Owls need less acreage per territory, allowing them to densely pack habitats occupied by Spotted Owls. They also have a more varied diet, primarily focused on small mammals like flying squirrels and woodrats.
"Their ability to prey on a wider range of animals gives Barred Owls a competitive edge in finding food." Funnily enough, they are nicknamed flying coyotes because they can eat almost anything that moves.
Margy Taylor, a former field researcher, explains that “From the time I began doing field work studying Spotted Owls in 1987 to when I retired in 2014, I was able to witness, first-hand, the crash of the population of spotted owls on the east slopes of the Central Washington Cascades. In the early 1990s, we were monitoring well over 100 occupied spotted owl territories, and by the time I retired in 2014, the territories occupied by spotted owls had fallen to less than 10. Some of the territories were simply vacant. Others had been taken over by Barred Owls. We were once able to monitor a territory where a Spotted Owl was paired with a Barred Owl. The pair raised young that fledged and we verified the fledged hybrids as adults in subsequent years. The combination of loss of habitat and climate change has made life for Spotted Owls nearly impossible here where I live. Barred Owls, with their more varied diet, are much better able to make do in the compromised habitat available now.”
Research by the US Geological Survey analyzed such observations of this decline. They revealed that Northern Spotted Owl populations had in fact experienced significant declines in all 11 study areas they looked at, ranging from 2% to 9% annually. As was previously presumed, Barred Owl presence in Spotted Owl territories was found to be the primary factor negatively affecting survival, and, ultimately, population trends. This highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to minimize the impact of invasive and non-native Barred Owls on Spotted Owl populations.
The Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan identified 12 recovery action steps to help Spotted Owls recover their habitat in California, Oregon, and Washington. In a final plan released July 3rd, 2024, the agency proposed killing as many as 450,000 barred owls over 30 years, despite opposition from some animal welfare activists and Washington state’s top public lands official who call for a more passive approach. They argue that there are major ethical implications in intervening with the course of nature. Additionally, they believe that there may be unforeseen ecological consequences for such large-scale interventions.
This plan will indeed benefit Spotted Owls, but will it outweigh the costs? Bridget Moran, a deputy state supervisor for the Fish and Wildlife Service in Oregon explains, “We're at a crossroads, and we’ve now developed the science and analyzed everything. We have to manage the Barred Owl. There is time to protect Spotted Owls, but that window is closing."
In conclusion, while both Barred Owls and Spotted Owls are fascinating species, the importance of implementing conservation measures to prevent this large-scale invasion has never been greater. Through conservation measures such as the Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan, we must work together to ensure the survival of the threatened Spotted Owl, while also protecting all owl species in their natural habitats.
