HomeMy WebLinkAbout110823 FWS Seeks Public Input on Draft Barred Owl Management Strategy and Draft EISALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear local partner,
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it is seeking public input on a draft Environmental Impact Statement and draft Barred Owl Management Strategy that addresses
the threat of the non-native and invasive barred owl to native northern and California spotted owls. The draft Environmental Impact Statement and Barred Owl Management Strategy is available
on the Barred Owl Management webpage <https://www.fws.gov/project/barred-owl-management> and a notice of availability will publish later this month in the Federal Register. The news
release and frequently asked questions are available online now <https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2023-11/service-seeks-public-comment-draft-strategy-manage-invasive-barred-owls> .
Northern spotted owl populations are declining rapidly due to competition with barred owls, along with past and ongoing habitat loss. Based on a recent analysis, northern spotted owl
populations on study areas throughout the range declined by 35 to more than 80 percent over the past two decades.
The long-term survival and recovery of the northern spotted owl, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, depends on reducing the negative impacts of barred owls.
California spotted owls, which the Service proposed for listing earlier this year, face a similar risk from barred owl competition as barred owl populations continue to expand southward.
The draft Barred Owl Management Strategy recommends actions to reduce barred owl populations in certain areas of the northern spotted owl’s range and focuses on limiting barred owl expansion
into the range of the California spotted owl. While the strategy would be voluntary, the Service strongly believes widespread implementation barred owl management is necessary for the
conservation of spotted owls, and intends to coordinate closely with Tribes, federal, state, and private partners on its implementation.
A 60-day public comment period will start when the notice of availability publishes in the Federal Register later this month. During that time, public comments on the draft Environmental
Impact Statement and Barred Owl Management Strategy may be submitted online at www.regulations.gov <http://www.regulations.gov/> under Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2022–0074. Comments can
also be submitted in writing to Public Comments Processing; Attn: Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2022-0074; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls
Church, VA 22041–3803.
The Service will host two informational virtual public meetings during the comment period to present information on the draft Environmental Impact Statement, give an overview of the
Barred Owl Management Strategy, and answer any questions. These will be informational meetings to aid the public in understanding the proposal and draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Public comments need to be submitted in writing separately.
Both meetings will cover the entire Barred Owl Management Strategy, but will have somewhat different focuses. The first meeting will focus on barred owl management within the northern
spotted owl’s range and will be held 6-8 p.m. Pacific Time on Dec. 4. The second meeting will focus on management within the range of California spotted owls and will take place 6-8
p.m. Pacific Time on Dec. 14. A link and access instructions to the virtual meetings will be posted at www.fws.gov/office/oregon-fish-and-wildlife <http://www.fws.gov/office/oregon-fish-and-wildlife
> at least one week prior to the public meeting date.
We welcome and value your input during this process. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Andrew LaValle
Public Affairs Specialist
Washington Ecological Services
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov/office/washington-fish-and-wildlife <https://www.fws.gov/office/washington-fish-and-wildlife>
360-628-3810 (c)
I am out of the office every other Friday
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