The spotted owl was declared endangered in 1990. A new report has suggested that another species of owl is contributing to its endangered status. The native spotted owls in Pacific Northwest are being outnumbered by Invasive barred owls. In 2013, the native species had been declining by almost 4% every year since 1985. The number is further seen declining rapidly as invasive species are populating in native habitat.

The invasive barred owl, a native of the eastern United States is increasing its population in non-native lands of Pacific Northwest. They are in tough competition with native owls for food and space. They are increasingly intruding spotted owl’s habitat by pushing them out of it, for which they are named as bullies by scientists.

Barred owls have been already forcing native ones to leave areas in upstate California, now they are spreading south towards San Francisco, posing danger to native species there too. To deal with this growing problem, an experiment has been sanctioned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to kill barred owl to protect the native species of owl.

Lowell Diller, a biologist and contractor with a lumber company, is taking part in the experiment. Though he doesn’t enjoy killing owls, he has no option left to protect native species. For this purpose, he contracted with Green Diamond Resource Co., which manages forestland in three Northern California counties. He applied for the permit after hearing that an ornithology curator at the California Academy of Sciences, Jack Dumbacher, received a permit to gather some barred owl specimens.

However, Andrea Jones, the National Audubon Society's California director of bird conservation believed that destruction of the local habitat is responsible for forcing both species to stand against each other. “It’s sort of a no-win situation. We're not advocating for the killing or against the killing”, said Jones.