Burrowing owls are a species of small owl that live in burrows in the ground. They are found in grasslands, prairies, agricultural areas, and other open habitats in Florida and other parts of North America. As human development expands into their habitat, burrowing owls are often displaced from their burrows. This has raised the question of whether burrowing owls can or should be relocated when their burrows are threatened by construction projects or other human activities.
Why are burrowing owls losing their natural habitat in Florida?
There are several reasons why burrowing owls are losing their natural burrowing habitat in Florida:
- Urban development – As cities and suburban areas expand, they encroach on and replace open grasslands favored by burrowing owls.
- Agriculture – Conversion of natural habitat to farmland reduces available burrowing and foraging habitat.
- Pest control – Burrowing mammals like gophers and ground squirrels, whose abandoned burrows are used by owls, are killed off as pests.
- Land clearing – Removal of shrubs and trees to create open landscapes can disturb or collapse unused burrows.
- Lack of burrowing mammals – Declines in rodent populations in some areas leave fewer abandoned burrows for owls.
All of these factors have contributed to substantial reductions in suitable habitat for burrowing owls in many parts of Florida. Loss of burrowing habitat is one of the primary threats to the species in the state.
Are burrowing owls protected in Florida?
Yes, burrowing owls are considered a protected species in Florida. They are classified as a “State Threatened Species” by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This classification makes it illegal to intentionally harm or kill burrowing owls, destroy their nests or eggs, or otherwise negatively impact the species.
In addition, burrowing owls are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This prohibits destroying their nests or eggs anywhere in the United States, and also bans intentionally killing, capturing, selling, or transporting the birds across state lines.
These legal protections aim to conserve burrowing owl populations in Florida and across their range. However, habitat loss remains a major problem despite their legally protected status.
What are the concerns with relocating burrowing owls in Florida?
There are several potential risks and concerns with relocating burrowing owls:
- Stress on owls – Catching, handling, and moving owls to new locations is inherently stressful for the birds and risks injury or even death.
- Abandonment of eggs/young – Owls with a nest or juvenile offspring cannot be easily relocated without abandoning their eggs or separating family members.
- Unsuitable habitat – New habitat may lack sufficient food sources, burrows, shelter, or protection from predators.
- Conflicts with resident owls – Relocated owls may fight with owls already living in a burrow or territory.
- Lack of survival skills – Hand-raised and relocated owls often lack proper hunting skills to survive in the wild.
- Difficulty adapting – Owls struggle to acclimate to new areas and find suitable burrows and resources.
Additionally, repeated relocations can make it harder for owls to establish stable nesting sites and territories. Despite the risks, relocation may be the best management option in some scenarios where owl burrows are immediately threatened.
What are some examples of burrowing owl relocation programs in Florida?
There have been several efforts to relocate burrowing owls facing displacement in Florida:
- Cape Coral – Over 400 burrowing owls were relocated from 2015-2020 during municipal construction projects.
- Jacksonville – About 30 owls were moved from a private property development site in 2015.
- Brevard County – 180 owls were captured and released at Kennedy Space Center to avoid nest disturbances.
- Leon County – Dozens of owls relocated between 2013-2018 to mitigate impacts from road and building construction.
- Lee County – Routinely relocates small numbers of owls from development areas to conservation lands.
These relocations aim to balance urban growth and construction demands with conservation of owls displaced from their burrows. The relocated owls are moved either to protected municipal lands or private conservation areas intended to provide suitable long-term habitat.
What techniques are used to capture and relocate burrowing owls?
Trained experts use several techniques to temporarily capture burrowing owls for relocation:
- One-way door – A specialized door is inserted into the burrow entrance that allows owls to exit but not re-enter. The owl is then caught outside the burrow.
- Noose carpets – Small loops of rope are scattered around the burrow entrance to temporarily snare an owl’s legs when stepped on.
- Bal-chatri traps – Cage traps with mealworm bait and softened branches designed to lightly entangle owls by their feet.
- Net guns – Handheld nets that fire a net up to about 30 feet to safely capture flying owls.
Trapped owls are carefully transferred to individual pet carriers for transport. Experts minimize handling time and keep owls in darkened carriers to reduce stress. It is critical to follow standardized protocols and ethical practices when trapping, handling, and relocating owls.
What kind of habitat do burrowing owls need for relocation?
Suitable habitat is key for burrowing owls to survive after relocation. Habitat requirements include:
- Open, treeless grasslands or prairies with low vegetation
- Gently sloping terrain with well-drained soil (sandy or loamy)
- An abundance of abandoned burrows from gophers, ground squirrels, armadillos, or tortoises
- Low human disturbances and vehicular traffic
- Adequate prey base of insects, small rodents, amphibians, reptiles
Natural or artificial burrows should be present or created at the relocation site. Areas with high grass or dense shrubs are generally not suitable. Properties specifically managed for burrowing owls typically have success with relocations.
What percentage of relocated burrowing owls survive in Florida?
Survival rates for relocated burrowing owls are variable. Some studies have found the following post-relocation survival rates:
- Florida – 70% survival after one year post-relocation
- California – 50% survival after one year for adult owls
- Canada – 62% survival after one year for relocated young owls
Higher survival is associated with relocating owl pairs together, releasing owls in the non-breeding season, and providing artificial burrows when natural burrows are lacking. Survival also depends on the quality of habitat at release sites. Poor habitat, high predation, vehicular collisions, and stress are common causes of post-relocation mortality.
What are some strategies to improve burrowing owl relocation success?
Some strategies that can potentially improve relocation success for burrowing owls include:
- Careful selection of optimal relocation sites with high quality habitat
- Releasing owl pairs together and avoiding separation of mates or young
- Temporary supplemental feeding at release sites while owls acclimate
- Close monitoring and tracking of relocated owls using banding and transmitters
- Use of artificial burrows and burrow protectors to provide refuge
- Predator management at release sites to reduce risks
- Public education to increase awareness and minimize disturbances
- Collaboration between agencies, conservation groups, landowners, and developers
Despite efforts to improve relocation protocols, transferring wild owls still disrupts their natural behaviors. Habitat protection and preservation should remain top priorities for conserving burrowing owls whenever possible.
Should developers be responsible for burrowing owl conservation?
There are good arguments for requiring developers to take responsibility for conserving burrowing owls affected by their projects:
- Developers directly eliminate owl habitat and displace owls through land clearing, grading, and construction activities.
- Costs for staff time, equipment, and land for owl relocations can be prohibitive for wildlife agencies to fund.
- Developers profit financially from projects that remove owl burrows and reduce available habitat.
- In some cases, relocation of owls is required for development approval under environmental regulations.
- Developers have resources and oversight of construction timelines to facilitate proper owl relocations.
- Voluntary measures by developers enable them to improve public perception and environmental credibility.
However, the additional costs of burrowing owl conservation may also reduce affordable housing availability. A balanced approach could have local governments, nonprofits, and developers jointly supporting owl protection based on mutually agreed conservation plans.
Conclusion
Burrowing owls face ongoing threats from habitat loss as development expands into their Florida scrub and grassland ecosystems. While relocating displaced owls can offer a last resort to conserve local populations, it is an imperfect solution with risks and variable success. Relocated owls may struggle to adapt and survive in new areas lacking adequate habitat and burrows. Conservation efforts for burrowing owls should prioritize protection and management of suitable habitat whenever feasible. But when developments unavoidably encroach on owl burrows, coordinated efforts by wildlife agencies, developers, local governments, and conservation groups provide the best chance of balancing urban growth demands with protecting this unique and threatened species.