HomeMy WebLinkAbout070324 email - USFWS Releases Final EIS on Proposed Barred Owl Management StrategyALERT: 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 a final environmental impact statement (EIS) analyzing proposed barred owl management alternatives to protect northern and California
spotted owls in Washington, Oregon and California from invasive barred owls.
The Service’s preferred alternative is the implementation of a proposed Barred Owl Management Strategy, which would result in the annual removal of less than one-half of 1% of the current
North American barred owl population.
Northern spotted owl populations are rapidly declining due to competition with invasive barred owls and habitat loss. California spotted owls, which are proposed for ESA listing, face
a similar risk as barred owl populations continue to move south into their range.
If the proposed strategy is adopted and fully implemented, lethal removal of barred owls by trained professionals would occur in less than half of the areas where spotted and invasive
barred owls co-exist within the northern spotted owl’s range; and would limit their invasion into the California spotted owl’s range. Public hunting of barred owls is not allowed under
the proposed strategy and lead ammunition will not be used for any lethal removal actions.
If the proposed strategy is adopted, the Service would receive a permit under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Service could then designate interested Tribes, federal and state agencies,
companies, or specific landowners to implement barred owl management on their lands if actions are consistent with the strategy, conditions of the permit, and state laws and policies.
Those who implement the strategy will be accountable for annual monitoring and reporting.
The final EIS and proposed strategy reflect the input received throughout the scoping and public comment process, as well as feedback from cooperating agencies and Tribes. The Service
expects to announce a final record of decision on the proposed strategy at least 30 days after the formal publication of the final EIS in the Federal Register.
More information is available on the Service’s barred owl management <https://www.fws.gov/project/barred-owl-management> website <https://www.fws.gov/project/barred-owl-management>
, including final EIS, proposed strategy, press release <https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2024-07/us-fish-and-wildlife-service-releases-final-environmental-impact-statement> , and
FAQs <https://www.fws.gov/question-answer/barred-owl-management-strategy-final-eis-faqs> . The notice is available in the Federal Register <https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-147
24/environmental-impact-statements-availability-etc-barred-owl-management-strategy-washington-oregon> reading room <https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-14724/environmental-impact-
statements-availability-etc-barred-owl-management-strategy-washington-oregon> today and will publish on July 5 at https://www.regulations.gov <https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FWS-R1-ES-2022-0074/
document> in Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2022-0074.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
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)
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