In a controversial move, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a plan to eliminate nearly 450,000 owls over three decades, in an attempt to save the endangered "spotted owl" in the states of Oregon, Washington, and California.

The spotted owl, a native species on the West Coast, faces the threat of extinction due to the invasive "barred owl" that has spread from the eastern United States.

The barred owl breeds in larger numbers and requires less space to survive, making the spotted owl unable to compete.

According to the Daily Mail, the killing will be carried out by trained shooters in the West Coast forests, where the barred owls will be lured using recorded attractant calls and then shot.

This plan has sparked widespread controversy among environmental and animal advocates, with some viewing it as a harsh and ineffective solution, while others see it as necessary to save the spotted owl from extinction.