CCFW Home Page

In Memoriam
Thomas J. Allen

November 21, 1940 - August 9, 2010

The Burrowing Owls of Cape Coral and all the wildlife in Southwest Florida lost a great friend.

Tom Allen, an untiring defender of wildlife passed away on August 9th, 2010.

Tom was one remarkable guy. After serving in the United States Air Force he attended the University of Maine and where he earned bachelors and masters degrees in wildlife management. Tom worked for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources where he retired from and moved to Cape Coral.

Cape Coral was indeed lucky to have Tom as a resident.
Tom was an nationally recognized artist, sculptor and wood carver. An exhibit of his work was shown in the Cape Coral Library.

He was an author of two field guides on Butterflies one of his lifelong passions.
He was a regular contributor of a page on Butterflies for Birds and Blooms Magazine.

His expertise on radio tracking of wildlife led him to place radio transmitters on 50 of Cape Corals Burrowing Owls to learn more about their lives.

He was a resource person for the City of Cape Coral.
He taught at Edison College,
He was an accomplished photographer
He was a fossil hunter.
He was a wildlife rescuer.

As a member of Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife he was an officer, advocate, mentor, resource person, lecturer and was responsible for the creation and building of the butterfly house now located at Rotary Park.

As long as this list is, this is only a partial glimpse into the life of this amazing man.
As Michael Orchin, President of Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife so aptly stated at his memorial service, " If you see any wildlife in Cape Coral chances are that Tom has something to with their being there."

Tom will be sorely missed by his friends and family and especially all the wildlife that he loved so dearly.

Courtesy Bev Saltonstall
http://www.capecoralburrowingowls.com/In-Memoriam.html

Tom's personal website
http://thomas-j-allen.com/

The wildlife in Cape Coral can use every bit of your help. Donations and Membership support non-profit Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife. Please go to About US page and thru PayPal you can help us out

The City of Cape Coral developing a city-wide Habitat Conservation Plan. To read information about this plan comment on it and read the present plan in Palm Bay Florida go HERE

Give a man a fish, and he can eat for a day. But teach a man how to fish, and he'll be dead of mercury poisoning inside of three years. ~Charles Haas

The Owls are always needing your help and support- go to our "contacts" page and send our local officials a message that our unique City Bird needs care and concern NOW! If you came to Cape Coral to enjoy our wildlife let our city officials and the Chamber of Commerce know!

Get ready for the NINTH Annual Burrowing Owl Festival Its happening Feb. 26th 2011 If you would like to be a vendor at the festival You can fill out this form

	Rotary Park Butterfly House A new butterfly house has been donated to Rotary Park by the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife. The butterfly house will attract native butterflies, which are fascinating to watch as they transform from egg stage to a beautiful butterfly. All stages of their life cycle can be viewed in the butterfly house. Not only are butterflies enjoyable to watch but they also serve an important role in the ecosystem as pollinators and food for birds. At Rotary Park, you can walk through the butterfly gardens around the butterfly house and see the native plants that can attract these beautiful creatures to your yard. The butterfly house was built by volunteers with the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, who also donated plants and supplies. Home Depot donated construction supplies, and Coral Parks and Recreation also worked on the project as well. The North American Butterfly Association has donated money to help maintain the butterfly house, and Cape Coral’s Special Populations Division will help maintain the butterfly house and garden. In addition, friends and neighbors of Rotary Park donated time, plants and flower pots. The new butterfly house is an excellent community partnership to help educate the public about butterflies and their role in the environment. Stop by the Rotary Park Environmental Center, which is open from 8a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Call (239) 549-4606 to tour the butterfly house or register for one of the butterfly gardening classes offered at the park. Article courtesy of City of Cape Coral, Summer 2010 'On the Move' newsletter. Some Wildlife Contact Numbers: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Alert 888- 404-3922 or *FWC on a cell phone. City of Cape Coral Planning & Growth Management Division 239-574-0589 Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife 239-980-2593 contact@ccfriendsofwildlife C.R.O.W (239) 472-3644 There are no Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife meetings for June, July and August. We will see all our friends back in Rotary Park in September however. In the meantime visit Rotary Park and see the butterfly house and the new children's playground! ....and don't forget, we now have a beautiful page on Facebook! Check it out