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Burrowing Owl Information

 

Photo Courtesy of Dan Tudor

Cape Coral Burrowing Owl Cam

Building Permit Procedures for Burrowing Owls 

Cape Coral Burrowing Owl Viewing Locations

Burrowing Owl/Gopher Tortoise Affidavit DCD-3002

Burrowing Owl Information

The Florida Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridan) is the most encountered lisited species in the City of Cape Coral with over 2,500 owl burrows. The Florida Burrowing Owl is classified as a "species of special concern" by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC). Burrows, owls, and their eggs are protected from harassment and/or disturbance by State law and by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  In 2005, The City of Cape Coral designated the Florida Burrowing Owl the official City Bird. (Resolution 50-05)

The Burrowing Owl is a small, pint-sized bird that lives in open, treeless areas. The Burrowing Owl spends most of its time on the ground, where its sandy brown plumage provides camouflage from potential predators.  One of Florida's smallest owls, this bird averages nine inches in height, with a wingspan of 21 inches. The Burrowing Owl has bright yellow eyes and unusually long legs that provide additional height for a better view to spot predators.  Instead of nesting in the trees, as most birds do, the Burrowing Owl gets its name from living underground in burrows. It digs its own holes or lives in abandoned Gopher Tortoise burrows. Burrowing owls are unique in that they can live in close proximity to humans.

Potential predators of the Burrowing Owl include hawks, cats, dogs, and exotic Nile Monitor Lizards. One of the main threats to the owl’s survival is destruction of their habitat. In Cape Coral, burrowing owl habitat is located primarily on vacant lots. As more vacant lots are being developed, more Burrowing Owl habitat is shrinking.  A significant portion of the reported deaths and injuries to Burrowing Owls are from collisions with automobiles. During the nesting season, baby burrowing owls are fledging (learning to fly) and are more susceptible to collusions with automobiles.
Can I Build a House if an Owl Burrow is Located on my Vacant Lot?

Although the burrow is protected by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC), you can build on your property when there is an owl burrow on site. As long as the builder can maintain a protective zone with a 10 foot radius centered at the burrow entrance, your house can be built right beside the owl’s burrow any time of the year, without an owl permit.  In fact, we encourage this practice.

In the event that the burrow is not in a location that would allow your house to be built near it, the developer is required to obtain a permit from the FFWCC to destroy the nest.  If the burrow is located within the building envelope, the FFWCC's policy is to issue permits to allow destruction of burrowing owl nest burrows only as a last resort and after all reasonable alternatives (realigning proposed development to avoid the nest) have been considered and determined impractical. In order to minimize the adverse impacts to the species when a nest is destroyed, the contractor or homeowner is strongly encouraged to place a “starter burrow” elsewhere on their property.

How Can I Help Protect the Burrowing Owl?

The City of Cape Coral relies on its dedicated residents, workers, and visitors to report Burrowing Owl issues to the City of Cape Coral. Protecting the Burrowing Owl is a top priority for the community.

If you find or encounter any of the following situations:

§  Molesting, harassing, or killing owls and/or damaging, filling, or destroying owl burrows is a crime. Please report the violations to FWC’s 24 hour hotline at 1-888-404-3922

§  Injured or wounded owls please immediately call the Clinic Rehab of Wildlife (CROW) 239-472- 3644 or the City of Cape Coral at 239-573-3077.

§  Non-staked burrows please report to the City of Cape Coral at wildlife@capecoral.net.

§  Dead owls please email the City of Cape Coral at wildlife@capecoral.net.

§  Adopt a Burrow Program– Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife

§  Start a Burrow Program – Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife


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