I recently read that the state Department of Fish Wildlife, in its infinite wisdom, is preparing to order another poorly thought-out response to an unfortunate situation.
They have decided to kill hundreds of thousands of barred owls in a scheme to benefit the spotted owl.
The barred owl has done nothing wrong. It is simply outcompeting the spotted in the Pacific Northwest now that most of the old growth forests, which spotted owls prefer, are gone.
Will killing huge numbers of barred owls bring back the old forests?
Obviously not. It is merely treating a symptom and not the cause of the problem.
And why prefer one owl over another anyway?
Nature has spoken.
The environment has changed and is changing still.
Unfortunately for the spotted owl, maybe the barred owl is better suited to be part of the future of this area.
Suzette Williams
Port Angeles