Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) have been a flagship species of conservation biology in the United States of America. Their decline was strongly associated with timber harvests that removed and degraded habitat, and their conservation relied on regulating timber harvests to protect habitat. However, the congeneric Barred Owl (Strix varia) expanded its range across North America to now completely overlap the Northern Spotted Owl’s range. Competition between these two species has led to further declines in Spotted Owl populations. This presents a challenge for conservation, as it appears the only way protect Spotted Owls will be to lethally remove the closely related Barred Owl. My presentation will cover the history of Northern Spotted Owl conservation and the Barred Owl range expansion. My current dissertation research in Oregon is making use of the Barred Owl specimens collected as part of a large-scale removal study, where I am investigating their foraging ecology through stomach contents and body condition. This research is helping to inform how Barred Owls have been so successful in their new range as well as indicate other species, beyond the Spotted Owl, that may be threatened by this novel predator.