Restrict the use of pesticides. Owls eat the insects we consider pests, and are therefore exposed to the insecticides we use around our homes. Pesticides limit and contaminate the food sources available to the owls. Starter burrows. Attracting burrowing owls to our developed properties and integrating them into our community will help ensure their survival. Call 574-0552 for more information, or see our brochure, CAPE CORAL'S BURROWING OWLS-YOU CAN HELP for details.

Burrowing owls hunt for prey, care for their young, maintain their burrows, sleep and watch for potential predators.

The western species is found from Canada to Mexico, as far east as Texas and Louisiana and as far west as California. In some states the burrowing owl is on the endangered species list.

Their main diet consists of insects, anoles (lizards) frogs and mice. They obtain water from the food they eat. Please do not attempt to feed them. and display their wings to dissuade you from getting any closer. The city has never received any reports of injury to humans or pets from owls.

Burrowing owls migrate during the winter but are found in New Mexico all year. They like dry grasslands and move into underground burrows, often previously dug by other animals.

Burrowing owls are opportunistic, and feed on insects, small mammals, small birds and small lizards. They capture prey with their talons and also catch small insects while flying.

Burrows provide a safe havens from other animals that hunt them and from the weather. Unfortunately, burrows are often disturbed by people and domestic dogs and cats. In places without suitable burrows, artificial burrows in the form of nest boxes may be used.

Burrowing owls are active day and night, and may be seen outside their burrows any time. In New Mexico, burrowing owls lay three to 10 eggs in the early spring. The eggs hatch about a month later. Young burrowing owls may be observed from Mid-April to the end of August.

Since owls are site specific, they return to the same nesting area year after year. The nest can only be destroyed if a permit from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission has been issued. Owls can be attracted to starter burrows on already developed properties nearby.

Burrowing owls are small, ground-nesting owls common in the West. They weigh between 4 and 5 ounces and are about 7½ to 10 inches in height with long, sparsely feathered legs. Their small round heads lack ear tufts and they have a light brown back with numerous white speckles and a white underbelly with horizontal brown stripes.

The OWL and NEWT exams are open for our fifth and seventh years. To sign up to take the exams, you MUST be a 5th or 7th year. Go to the sign up forums that are listed under Special Events: Exams, and sign up. Someone will then add you to the user group, and you will be able to take the exams you need for advancement.

Like flying squirrels, a lot more common than you'd expect. Unlike flying squirrels, however, they don't adapt real well to suburbia, and most of them live in swamps, deep woods, and rural areas. An exception is the Eastern Screech Owl, which is a little bit bigger than a soft drink can. It has no trouble finding the insects and birds it eats in residential areas, and it nests in holes in trees ? and also in larger birdhouses.

Owls are very site specific, which means they are likely to return to the same territory year after year to raise their young, If the burrow is damaged either by humans or natural causes, becomes too over grown, or if the owls are continuously harassed at their current location, they will often move to a nearby area to start a new nest.

Any harassment of burrowing owls or malicious destruction of their nests should be reported to Wildlife Alert. The number is toll free: 1800-282-8002, (or you can call the City of Cape Coral's Growth & Land Management Division at 574-0552).

Generally, Owls eat rodents, small mammals, and/or insects. Some species specialise in other food, such as fish. For more details, see our Owl Physiology: Food & Hunting section.

Firstly, you should realize that not all Owls hoot. Have a listen at our Owl Calls Gallery, and you will see just how many different sounds Owls make. Now, Owls call for the same reason as any other critter makes noises - to communicate. A call may be territorial - warning others to stay away, or it can be to contact a mate or young, or advertise availability for breeding...

Most birds that eat indigestible foods produce pellets. I know for a fact that crows and jays (at least Blue and Florida Scrub-) produce pellets, and I am certain that most other insectivorous birds do as well. I'm not sure why all we know about are owl pellets. Perhaps it's because they roost in recognizable spots and produce large, cohesive pellets with lots of hair to hold them together.

of 3-8-06 it was -- burrowing owls live 5-10 years, so it may be there a while, since we have seen it for a year now.

To discourage woodchucks from taking up residence in your yard, or to encourage burrow abandonment, remove undergrowth and brush from around houses or buildings that they have burrowed under.

The laws about Owl ownership vary from country to country. In the USA and Australia, it is illegal to own a native Owl. There are exceptions to this, for people in the USA that have a Rehabilitation or Falconry License, but even this varies from state to state. There are two very helpful documents on our downloads page, "For the love of owls" and "Owl Keeping". Also, there is some excellent advice at this external link: 'Want an Owl for a Pet?' No.