They look alike, they live in the same areas, and they have even mated upon occasion. But barred owls and spotted owls do not generally co-exist, and that's a problem for the meeker spotted owl, already present on the federal endangered species list.
Barred owls have displaced spotted owls in portions of the region's forests, raising risks for the spotted owl's survival. Control measures are being undertaken, including the shooting of barred owls in some places.
David Wiens at U.S. Geological Survey is part of a team researching barred owl behavior and its effect on the ecosystems in which the bird lives. Paul Henson at U.S. Fish and Wildlife oversees the Barred Owl Removal Experiment.They join us for an overview.