A federal plan to cull 450,000 invasive barred owls across Washington, Oregon, and California over three decades faces mounting public pushback, according to conservation groups and federal wildlife documents. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service warns that without managing the barred owl population, native northern spotted owls could become functionally extinct in Washington within the next decade.
Billboards Target Federal Owl Culling Strategy in Western Washington
Drivers in three western Washington cities now encounter billboards bearing the message, “Hoot don’t shoot. Stop the Slaughter. 450,000 owls to be shot. $1.35 billion taxpayer bill,” according to the Center for a Humane Economy. The signs are stationed along Lake City Way NE in Seattle, Woodinville-Snohomish Road near 144th Ave NE in Woodinville, and near I-5 in Fife near exit 137 54th Ave.
The nonprofit organization behind the campaign argues that lethal countermeasures will fail to solve the ecological imbalance long-term. “Those young owls will go into the areas cleansed of other barred owls and re-populate,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy. Pacelle described the cycle as a continuous loop of shooting and replenishment that leaves the core problem unresolved.
Did you know?
According to federal estimates, roughly 11,000 northern spotted owls remain in the wild, with only about 15% located in Washington and the rest distributed across Oregon and California.
Ecological Stakes: Barred Owls Versus Northern Spotted Owls
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service documents classify the barred owl as an invasive species in Washington, Oregon, and California. Federal biologists report that the birds displace native northern spotted owls by disrupting nesting and outcompeting them for food.
Beyond spotted owls, federal wildlife officials state that barred owls possess a broad diet that harms other native wildlife in Washington. The agency notes the ecosystem disruption impacts at-risk and endangered species including the band-tailed pigeon, pocket gopher species, shrews, western screech owl, western gray squirrel, and the ring-necked snake.
Legal Challenges and Political Opposition on the West Coast
The controversy extends beyond Washington state borders. In Portland, Oregon, animal advocates gathered to protest the federally backed culling plan. The Center for a Humane Economy deployed eight billboards in the Portland area as part of the broader “Hoot, Don’t Shoot” campaign.
Legal and political friction surrounds the initiative. In 2024, the Center for a Humane Economy and Animal Wellness Action joined other animal welfare groups in filing a lawsuit against the federal government to halt the barred owl culling plan, a case that is still moving forward. Meanwhile, the Center for a Humane Economy is working to introduce new bills aimed at defunding the Fish and Wildlife program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are barred owls being targeted for removal?
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, barred owls are an invasive species that outcompete and displace native northern spotted owls, pushing them toward functional extinction.
How many barred owls does the federal plan intend to remove?
The agency’s strategy aims to cull some 450,000 barred owls across Washington, Oregon, and California, representing under 1% of the population of 450,000 owls over 30 years.
Who is funding the opposition campaign?
The “Hoot, Don’t Shoot” billboard campaign is organized by the nonprofit Center for a Humane Economy, led by President Wayne Pacelle.
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