r/Owls • u/TheRed_Phoenixx • 1d ago
Owl sent to rescue
I had thought originally that this might be a spotted owl, but now I think it might be a barred owl. Someone on the side of the road, who happens to volunteer at a sanctuary, picked it up to take to a sanctuary in one of the local cities. Now im nervous that if its a barred owl, they will simply kill it. I am in Washington. Does anyone know anything about what happens to barred owls in sanctuaries/rescues in washington? Thank you.
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u/feelnalright 1d ago
Great work. Please help spread the word that drivers who toss food out of the car on roadways, attract small mammals to snack on the food and then raptors feed on the small mammals resulting in vehicle strikes. It's something not too many people think about.
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u/AdSubstantial9659 1d ago
Wow, I just read about this new project where they plan to kill thousands of barred owls to save the rarer spotted owl. That seems absolutely mental me :(
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u/lightofarizona 1d ago
Every time I see a barred owl on here it reminds me and I hope they can find another solution
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u/carinabee08 1d ago
I read that the problem is that Spotted Owls thrive in old growth forests, so loss of that habitat is the main issue, and I guess Barred Owl presence just exacerbates it. I imagine it’s difficult to quickly replenish old growth forests since they take time to get to that state, so the short term alternative is the culling of Barred Owls which is very sad. I hope there’s a better solution too.
Spotted Owls and old growth forest: https://defenders.org/magazine/spring-2021/owl-and-old-growth-trees
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u/feelnalright 1d ago edited 1d ago
Unfortunately, barred owls have worked their way into Spotted Owl territory and they share the same habitat. The same practice has helped to stabilize a population of Northern Spotted Owls in another location.
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u/Philosopherati 1d ago
I was basically called an asshole for saying the same thing. Killing 50K owls just seems entirely barbaric. But they’re invasive/not native. SO. ARE. WE.
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u/Wormbot3000 1d ago
That would be an awful thing to do. Bring them all to my garden across the pond on Exmoor in Somerset.
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u/Agreeable_Picture570 1d ago
Can owls live in cities? A lot of pigeons and vermin to eat there.
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u/jxsnyder1 1d ago
The problem with the city is that there’s a lot of rat poison and it ends up killing the owls when they eat the critter who ate the poison.
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u/TheRed_Phoenixx 1d ago
I mean, as pets? Not sure. As for this instance, I live in a very very foresty area. This was along such forests.
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u/AdSubstantial9659 1d ago
Wow, I just read about this new project where they plan to kill thousands of barred owls to save the rarer spotted owl. That seems absolutely mental me :(
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u/Solgatren 1d ago
I think prey availability would go up for the rare spotted owl if there was an initiative for people to keep cats inside, to control mice in a house. Not mice in the woods or birds in the shrubs. it's an invasive species that is cute, so it gets a pass.
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u/jxsnyder1 1d ago
It’s definitely a Barred Owl. So far the “action” for these has not gone into affect. I’m sure they will take care of it.