Tweeters,

All the fuss over the options for managing barred owls comes from the
release of the draft N Spotted Owl Recovery Plan. There is no program in
place to kill Barred Owls, but a number of research actions in the plan
focus on studying the effects of Barred Owls on Spotted Owls, and recommend
removal experiments as the best means to achieve this and other goals of
the plan. The recovery plan includes two options, which differ little in
their approach to Barred Owls, but differ significantly in their approach
to habitat protection. The plan is now out for public comment, and you can
read the whole thing, and submit comments on this USFWS website:

http://www.fws.gov/pacific/ecoservices/endangered/recovery/NSORecoveryPlanning.htm

There will also be public meetings in Olympia May 31 and Portland May 30
(details on website).

Scott Gremel
Port Angeles, WA