You have probably heard of the controversial plan by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to, on an experimental basis, to force the removal of Barred Owls from certain areas to protect the Endangered Spotted Owl. Walter Carnahan, former president of the Sierra Foothills Audubon Society, writes today in The Union that a concerted effort to protect old growth forest is a better way to save the Spotted Owl:

Given that the barred owl is expanding its range, controlling that population seems to be a fool's errand. Shoot one and another may show up in a short time. The best way to protect the spotted owl is to protect its old forest habitat.