Killings of invasive owls to ramp up on US West Coast in bid to save native birds

FILE - A barred owl is shown in the woods outside Philomath, Ore., Dec. 13, 2017. FILE - A northern spotted owl flies after an elusive mouse jumping off the end of a stick in the Deschutes National Forest near Camp Sherman, Ore., May 8, 2003. FILE - Wildlife technician Jordan Hazan records data in a lab from a male barred owl he shot earlier in the night, Oct. 24, 2018, in Corvallis, Ore.

U.S. wildlife officials beginning next year will drastically scale up efforts to kill invasive barred owls that are crowding out imperiled native owls from West Coast forests. The plan finalized Wednesday faces challenges from barred owls returning after they've already been removed.