The Barred and Spotted Owl Problem, a Question of Ethics. PHIL 314: Environmental Ethics Julie Solorzano. Ethical and value concerns In this assignment, the exploration of owl ethics comes into play. Spotted owls are at risk of extinction due to their barred owl counterparts intruding and outcompeting them in their habitat. The Fishery and Wildlife sector proposes killing half a million barred owls to save the spotted owls from potential extinction, which raises ethical concerns addressed in this analysis. Then, the question of what is considered natural arises in this case study. If barred owls can access the spotted owls' primary habitat due to anthropogenic factors, then the question of the naturalness of the area is not definitive. Suppose the barred owls can somehow be ethically eliminated from their area of intrusion. Barred owls are invading the spotted owls' natural habitat, but eliminating the barred owls in what is now an extension of their habitat is concerning as well. In this area of ethics, the naturalness that applies here is not defined specifically. If climate change has allowed the barred owls to invade northward, humans have made it possible for them to accomplish this. …show more content…
There are pieces to this argument that can be supported by Goodpaster. One piece is that all living things have interests (PHIL 314: 26 February Goodpaster reading notes). Spotted owls have an interest in staying alive and not going extinct. The barred owls, however, have the same interest, though they are not at risk of extinction. The pain they may also feel, however small as proposed by the FWS plan, is part of the question as well for barred owls. However, in Goodpaster's view, pain is an experience that protects life. Since the goal of this entire program is to save the spotted owl from extinction and protect life, there has to be a minimize of pain experienced by the barred owls as they are eliminated from this