DEI is apparently alive and well on the West Coast.

The US government has begun shooting down up to 450,000 barred owls across California, Oregon and Washington — in a controversial culling effort to thwart the extinction of a rival owl.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service project to preserve the endangered spotted owl, finalized a year ago, should could cost taxpayers an estimated $1.35 billion over the next 30 years.

The matter triggered a year-long ethical debate in Washington DC.

The culling has started already in northern California. NurPhoto via Getty Images

Last month, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) tried blocking the plan by bringing the matter to a vote with a joint resolution, but the legislation failed to generate enough votes.

“The barred owls are not hurting anybody,” Kennedy i

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