Congress Seeks to Block Barred Owl Killing Plan in Pacific Northwest

A controversial Biden-era plan to cull nearly 500,000 barred owls in the Pacific Northwest to protect the endangered spotted owl has faced bipartisan opposition in Congress and setbacks under the Trump administration. Lawmakers, led by Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and supported by colleagues from both parties, introduced a resolution using the Congressional Review Act to nullify the plan, calling it costly, inhumane, and impractical. The barred owl, an invasive species in the West, outcompetes the smaller spotted owl for habitat, prompting federal wildlife officials to propose the mass culling as a means to prevent spotted owl extinction. However, animal welfare groups and some lawmakers argue that the plan is wasteful and unethical, advocating instead for habitat protection. The Trump administration has canceled key grants funding the program, effectively halting some of the owl removal efforts, much to the approval of animal rights activists but concern from wildlife biologists and tribes who see the cull as essential to saving the spotted owl. The ongoing debate highlights complex ecological, ethical, and political challenges in managing endangered species and invasive populations.