Endangered Owl Breeding Program’s Controversial “No regRATS” Campaign

A conservation program in British Columbia is taking an unorthodox route to raise funds by combining fundraising with a dash of dark humor. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the program has introduced a campaign called “No regRATS,” in which donors can give a name—often inspired by a past lover or adversary—to a rat that will subsequently be fed to a northern spotted owl. For a donation of at least C$5, supporters receive a photo and video documenting the event, an idea that has attracted both amusement and criticism from the public.

The initiative comes on the heels of desperate efforts to save the northern spotted owl, whose numbers have plummeted due to habitat destruction from industrial logging in south-west British Columbia. Historically, the old-growth forests once kept nearly 1,000 owls, but the species has been driven to the brink, serving as a stark indicator of environmental decline. Despite the federal environment minister urging emergency measures to protect the owl’s habitat, political hurdles thwarted these efforts, leaving the conservation program as one of the last attempts to revive the endangered population.

In addition to conservation concerns, the campaign has ignited controversy among animal enthusiasts, particularly rat fans. While some critics expressed disapproval at equating rats with human relationships, defenders of the campaign argue that rodents constitute a natural part of the owl’s diet. They emphasize that the campaign not only serves an ecological purpose by supporting the care and eventual reintroduction of the owls but also adds an element of levity to the fundraising effort.