(picture taken 11.28.09)

Cape Coral is home to Florida’s largest population of Burrowing Owls.

The burrowing owl is a pint-sized bird standing approximately nine inches tall and weighing only about four ounces.  They live in open, treeless areas, spending most of their time on the ground, where their sandy color provides camouflage from potential predators.

As it’s name says: the burrowing owl differs from other kinds of owls……instead of nesting in the trees, the burrowing owl lives underground in burrows.

Many Cape Coral residents help their feathered friends by securing off the area around the burrow and offering a “T” stake for the birds to perch on.

Owls are very site specific, which means they are likely to return to the same territory year after year to raise their young.  This may be Mr. Confused’s case….

Currently Florida’s burrowing owls are listed as a ‘species of special concern’ meaning “those facing a moderate risk of extinction in the future”.

Many people wrongly believe that it is not possible to build real estate on a vacant lot if burrowing owls occupy it….Not true!  However, there is a process that a builder needs to follow to protect our little friends….

Feel free to contact me for more info about our burrowing owls or how to build near a nest…

Deb Cullen, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS

deb@CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322