Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife
Our Mission
Dedicated to Protection, Preservation and Education
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is a volunteer organization whose purpose is to preserve and enhance the habitats of protected wildlife species and to educate the community about Cape Coral’s wildlife resources.
Founded in 2001, we now have approximately 500 members and an engaged group of volunteers, board of directors and committees operating our unique events and programs. | About Us
Volunteer hours in the last year
Actions Speak Louder than Words!
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is a non-profit membership organization that relies on donations and fundraisers to help protect our wildlife in Cape Coral, Florida. All members are volunteers, with no paid positions.
Join/Renew Membership
Help support wildlife in Cape Coral by becoming a member, or renewing your existing membership.
Donate to CCFW
Make a tax deductible donation to support Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and our mission to protect and educate.
Shop CCFW Merchandise
Get some unique apparel, wear your support for Cape Coral's wildlife and help further our mission by shopping CCFW merchandise.
Adopt an Owl
Adopt a Cape Coral Burrowing Owl to help fund burrow maintenance activities and other programs.
What’s at Stake
The Florida burrowing owl and gopher tortoise are designated a threatened species by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The designation of Threatened is given to species whose prospects of survival are in jeopardy—in this case due largely to habitat loss.
Research has shown that gopher tortoise populations in Cape Coral represent a self-sustaining viable conservation unit that call for preservation of the natural and vacant lands they currently occupy.
The gopher tortoise is considered a “keystone species” with more than 350 other species using their burrows for shelter. If the tortoise burrows disappear, the ecosystem of wildlife that relies on them, will collapse.
Make a Difference
Join the Burrow Maintenance Crew
Here is an important way to help working directly with wildlife. Supplied with City maps, weed wackers, safety equipment, and lots of enthusiasm this group of dedicated volunteers trim burrow with high weeds, install PVC pipes and perches on newly found burrows, repair and clean up existing burrows. They also have obtained GPS coordinates for every known burrow and submitted this information to the City of Cape Coral to be put in the City data base.
Dig a Starter Burrow
As Cape Coral grows, there will be less and less empty lots for the Burrowing Owls to call home, and loss of habitat is a primary reason why Burrowing Owl populations decline. Fortunately there is a solution to habitat loss that is working quite well. Homeowners are being encouraged to put "starter" burrows on their front lawns.
Visit the Butterfly House
The Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly House is one of Cape Coral's top attractions and a labor of love for many CCFW volunteers.
Request a Speaker
CCFW volunteers are available to speak to students and civic associations about protecting Cape Coral's wildlife and habitats.
In the News
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife Life Hosts Vertical Oyster Garden Workshop
Join Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and Calusa Waterkeeper for a Vertical Oyster Garden Workshop on Dec 7, 2024, to learn how oysters help restore water quality and marine habitats. Limited spots available!
How to Help Burrowing Owls Displaced After Hurricanes
Published by Wink News by Amy GaloHurricanes Helene and Milton left many burrowing owls homeless, and Pascha Donaldson, a board member of the Cape Coral Wildlife Trust, is working hard to get them back into their burrows. Donaldson straps on her pink gloves, marches...
Learn about Florida’s Sea Turtles at the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife Meeting
Please join Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW) at their next general meeting where Brittnay Laster, MSc; Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) will discuss sea turtles!
Cape Coral Paint for a Cause – Manatees
Hooked Island Grill will host a fun Cape Coral Paint for a Cause event to support Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and manatee conservation.
Invitation to: Climate, Wetlands, and the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters
Hear from expert speakers representing Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, Protect our Wetlands in Cape Coral, Florida Right to Clean Water, and SWFL EcoAlliance. A constitutional right is critical to protecting wetlands that protect us from climate changes....
Captain Redfoot, a South American tortoise is Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife’s September “Volunteer of the Month.”
Twenty-five year-old "Captain" lives in Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife's Butterfly House. For eight years, he has delighted and educated hundreds of visitors from all over the world. Children often ignore the butterflies and make a beeline for the beloved reptile,...
Cape Coral Construction Displaces Burrowing Owls, Sparks Community Outrage
A Cape Coral resident is raising concerns after witnessing the destruction of a burrowing owl habitat.
Early Thursday morning, around 8:30 a.m., concerned neighbor Amanda Goodwin says she saw the bulldozing of the protective sign for burrowing owls at the construction site at NE 8th Place and NE 11th Street.
Goodwin says she saw a white pickup truck with a tractor dismantling the sign. NBC2 even spotted a displaced owl while at the construction site.
Nick Jennings from FWC to Discuss Burrowing Owls
Did you know that Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists have an active program to band Cape Coral’s burrowing owls? Join Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW) at their first general meeting of the season on September 10, 2024 to learn more...
Cape Coral City Council Poised to Approve $900,000 Burrowing Owl Grant
The grant is the first of its kind and will provide up to $900,000 for purchase of land in Cape Coral for burrowing owl habitat.
Upcoming Cape Coral City Council Candidate Forums
Your vote is your voice. Prepare to vote in the August 20, 2024 primary election by learning about the candidates.
What this week’s heavy rainfall means for the Cape’s burrowing owls
Published by Fox News by Bella LineCAPE CORAL, Fla. — The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife (CCFW) just finished its yearly burrowing owl count, but with warnings of flooding this week in the Cape, there's some concern about what this means for these owls that live...
Saving Burrowing Owls in the Rain
Published by Wink News by Tiffany RizzoWe’ve got lots of rain the past couple of days, and it’s flooding and burrowing owls’ homes. The older owls can fly to higher ground, but Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife President Pascha Donaldson worries about the babies! “If our...