Removing barred owls from local areas: Techniques and feasibility

Abstract The barred owl (Strix varia) has invaded the range of the northern spotted owl (S. occidentalis caurina) over the past century. The Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan recommended removal experiments to assess both the effect of barred owls on spotted owls and the feasibility of initiating s...

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Main Authors: Lowell V. Diller, John P. Dumbacher, Raymond P. Bosch, Robin R. Bown, R. J. Gutiérrez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-03-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.381
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author Lowell V. Diller
John P. Dumbacher
Raymond P. Bosch
Robin R. Bown
R. J. Gutiérrez
author_facet Lowell V. Diller
John P. Dumbacher
Raymond P. Bosch
Robin R. Bown
R. J. Gutiérrez
author_sort Lowell V. Diller
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The barred owl (Strix varia) has invaded the range of the northern spotted owl (S. occidentalis caurina) over the past century. The Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan recommended removal experiments to assess both the effect of barred owls on spotted owls and the feasibility of initiating some form of barred owl control to enhance recovery of the northern spotted owl. Concern has been raised that such experiments will be neither feasible nor cost‐effective. To assess these and other concerns, we conducted lethal removal of barred owls within 3 areas totaling 85,205 ha in northern California, USA. We collected 73 of 81 territorial barred owls detected from 2009 to 2012 during 122 field visits. It took an average of 2 hr 23 min to collect each barred owl from the time of arrival at a site to the time a collected bird was completely processed for field data. Most barred owls were collected within one‐half hour of arrival at a site. Lethal removal of barred owls was rapid, technically feasible, and cost‐effective. We provide recommendations for techniques we found to be effective. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-a5c45bb59922419cb2e3b06d39964b942025-08-20T01:56:34ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402014-03-0138121121610.1002/wsb.381Removing barred owls from local areas: Techniques and feasibilityLowell V. Diller0John P. Dumbacher1Raymond P. Bosch2Robin R. Bown3R. J. Gutiérrez4Green Diamond Resource Company600 Riverside Road, PO Box 68KorbelCA95550USACalifornia Academy of SciencesSan FranciscoCA94103USAUnited States Fish and Wildlife ServiceArcataCA95521USAUnited States Fish and Wildlife ServicePortlandOR97232USADepartment of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMN55108USAAbstract The barred owl (Strix varia) has invaded the range of the northern spotted owl (S. occidentalis caurina) over the past century. The Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan recommended removal experiments to assess both the effect of barred owls on spotted owls and the feasibility of initiating some form of barred owl control to enhance recovery of the northern spotted owl. Concern has been raised that such experiments will be neither feasible nor cost‐effective. To assess these and other concerns, we conducted lethal removal of barred owls within 3 areas totaling 85,205 ha in northern California, USA. We collected 73 of 81 territorial barred owls detected from 2009 to 2012 during 122 field visits. It took an average of 2 hr 23 min to collect each barred owl from the time of arrival at a site to the time a collected bird was completely processed for field data. Most barred owls were collected within one‐half hour of arrival at a site. Lethal removal of barred owls was rapid, technically feasible, and cost‐effective. We provide recommendations for techniques we found to be effective. © 2013 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.381barred owlCalifornialethal removalnorthern spotted owlStrix occidentalis caurinaStrix varia
spellingShingle Lowell V. Diller
John P. Dumbacher
Raymond P. Bosch
Robin R. Bown
R. J. Gutiérrez
Removing barred owls from local areas: Techniques and feasibility
Wildlife Society Bulletin
barred owl
California
lethal removal
northern spotted owl
Strix occidentalis caurina
Strix varia
title Removing barred owls from local areas: Techniques and feasibility
title_full Removing barred owls from local areas: Techniques and feasibility
title_fullStr Removing barred owls from local areas: Techniques and feasibility
title_full_unstemmed Removing barred owls from local areas: Techniques and feasibility
title_short Removing barred owls from local areas: Techniques and feasibility
title_sort removing barred owls from local areas techniques and feasibility
topic barred owl
California
lethal removal
northern spotted owl
Strix occidentalis caurina
Strix varia
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.381
work_keys_str_mv AT lowellvdiller removingbarredowlsfromlocalareastechniquesandfeasibility
AT johnpdumbacher removingbarredowlsfromlocalareastechniquesandfeasibility
AT raymondpbosch removingbarredowlsfromlocalareastechniquesandfeasibility
AT robinrbown removingbarredowlsfromlocalareastechniquesandfeasibility
AT rjgutierrez removingbarredowlsfromlocalareastechniquesandfeasibility