Greetings All

I am certain that killing Barred Owls would/will be of some help to Spotted
Owls. As has been noted, Barred Owls both kill and displace Spotteds. I know
that GH Owls also kill Spotted Owls, but I am not certain why Barred Owls are
being focused on. Because they are relative new-comers? Because they are more
likely to enter Spotted Owl habitat?

However, all of this is somewhat besides the point. Like our response to
terrorism and many other things, we've (ie, our government) -- in a time honored
fashion -- has chosen to take a quick, visible, and relatively easy "solution"
over actually solving the problem. The true solution is to stop destroying
habitat.

As long as Spotted Owl habitat continues to diminish in size and quality, the
killing of Barred Owls will just prolong the inevitable, not prevent it. If I
really thought that eliminating Barred Owls from w Washington would save
Spotted Owls, I'd likely support the activity; however, I don't think it will do
squat in the long run, for we seem destined to thrash the remaining habitat
anyway.

If we kill all the Barred Owls, the habitat that supplants the Old Growth
forests will just be without any Strix owls at all.

Best Wishes
Steven Mlodinow
Everett WA


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