The Spotted Wood Owl is a species of owl that originally inhabited the eastern part of the United States, and has gradually expanded its territory to the west for decades, seriously threatening the survival of native owls in the west. As a result, the United States** is considering killing tens of thousands of "invading" western spotted forest owls, and public opinion is currently being sought.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is soliciting public comment on several options to protect the survival of native western owls, including killing 4 percent in the program's first year, according to Business Insider60,000 spotted forest owls. The deadline for soliciting comments is January 16 next year.
According to Newsweek, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to kill a portion of the alien spotted forest owl each year, reducing the number of the invasive species by about 30 percent over the next 30 years, thus providing a "respite" for native western owls.
As early as the 50s of the last century, the spotted forest owl has appeared in the western United States, and in recent years, it has become increasingly active in Washington state, Oregon, California and other states, causing the population of at least two species of native owls to decline sharply.
Compared to the native owls of the west, the Spotted Wood Owl is larger, more territorial, more aggressive, has a more diverse diet, and preys on insects, rats, amphibians, fish, and other birds, and even attacks native owls. (END) (Yang Shuyi).