BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Birding Killing Barred Owls

Killing Barred Owls in the name of science and salvation has already begun in the Pacific Northwest. A beautiful bird, under assault for being... well, a bird. This action is exposed and chronicled in the Bellaonline Birding Website article entitled: Killing Barred Owls.

Who, working in concert with the USFWS, proposed and relentlessly propounded this unscientific and unfounded practice of killing a native raptor without evidence or a proper trial? See my new article "Killing Barred Owls- Who Are The Players?" on the Birding site homepage of Bellonline.com.

Carrie, to your absolute credit, you sure do not hold back any well-deserved punches in your hard hitting article/series on the wanton and needless sanctioned killing of the Barred Owls.

It seems like the predatory "players" are the ones in need of some slaying (figuratively speaking, I think?) in the name of "preservation."

You've certainly done your research, Carrie. Thank you for sharing all of that information with us.

I find the entire situation to be a bit sickening. It reminds me of the nightmare of the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) tracking down and capturing wild horses, claiming that the horses are running out of grazing land or are infringing upon land used for raising cattle. Of course there is no credibility to this claim. But no matter how many protest, these beaurocrats get their way. In the end all they do is put in danger these magnificent animals, some of which are injured or die in the process. This living legacy of our history should be left alone for future generations to come.....but no. The BLM separates these horses from their herd families and disrupts their lives. The members of the BLM should be ashamed, but as in the owl situation, it is just pure arrogance that is unfortunately tolerated in this country.

Hello, Edward!

You sound like a new birding buddy of mine. His ingenious suggestion, as a matter of fact, was that I should have entitled the piece: Who Are The Slayers? Great minds think alike...? :-)

And, actually, I have held back. There is so much information out there that contradicts what the principals in this drama are doing.

If I were writing an in-depth expose for the Washington Post or New York Times or Boston Globe or Atlanta Monthly, or National Geographic, etc. there would be a deluge of information that would come to the fore. But I am trying to get the readers here to at least have enough information to create a desire to learn more and to seriously question what the government is doing with their money, in their name. Not only that, but I want them to have truthful information which they can confidently use to stop this travesty.

You are welcome, Debbie. And I thank you for saying so. This has been a lot of hard work, and it is nice to hear from a reader that it is appreciated.

I know exactly what you mean about the mustangs. I remember weeping over that subject countless times when I was a little girl, and signing the petitions to Congress over and over again until- happy day!- our governmental leaders finally signed off on protecting our mustangs. And then growing up to find out that unscrupulous, devious employees of the government had found ways to subvert our laws. And then growing up some more to find out that our law makers know about it, and do nothing.

I have a young stallion. He runs freely in long bottom land pastures. I have been to the mustang sales. I have seen their stark fear and abject confusion- and even, most pitifully of all, their depressed resignation. I know, Debbie...

We have something in common, Carrie. I have horses as well, two mares. They enjoy spacious turnout, and I would have it no other way. You and I understand these magnificent creatures and how their spirits can be crushed. The wild mustangs should be left as is.......wild.