Burrowing owl nesting season

A burrowing owl family in Cape Coral. MICHIALE SCHNEIDER / COURTESY PHOTO

We are nearing the peak of burrowing owl nesting season in Cape Coral.

You may have noticed tiny chicks appearing near burrows in your neighborhood.

You can do several things to help the burrowing owls and their owlets at this time of year.

First, if you see an unmarked burrow or one without a perch made of PVC pipe and wood, please contact Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW) at ccfriendsofwildlife.org , by email or Facebook, or by calling 239 980-2593.

This applies to burrows at private homes, commercial and municipal properties and empty lots.

An unmarked burrow is unsafe because mowers may not notice it and run over it, collapsing it and potentially trapping the owls.

The city mows empty lots with large tractors, and the PCV pipe markers are critical to prevent the burrows from being run over.

When CCFW is notified of an unmarked burrow on a developed property, volunteers first contact the owner to obtain permission to mark the burrow. For empty lots, volunteers immediately install PVC pipes and a perch. In all cases, the location is recorded and added to the city’s database.

Another way community members can aid newly hatched owl chicks is to slow down when driving near burrows located near the road. As chicks emerge from their burrows and learn to fly, they become vulnerable to passing traffic.

Do not use rat poison! Many owls and other birds die because they eat rodents that are weakened or killed with poison. Whole families of burrowing owls have been wiped out because an adult brought a poisoned rodent to their burrow.

Use humane traps that do not release poison or poisoned animals into the environment. In fact, because burrowing owls consume rodents and insects – they are nature’s pest control free of charge.

Lastly, do not feed or provide water to burrowing owls. They are wild animals and know how to fend for themselves. Feeding them could make them ill and encourage dependence on humans.

Note that burrowing owls are classified as threatened species in Florida. If you see any destruction or harassment of burrowing owls or their nests, please report it to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC. ¦

The post Burrowing owl nesting season first appeared on Fort Myers Florida Weekly .