Burrowing owl population might be declining in Cape

Although no hard numbers exist to back them up, wildlife watchers say Cape Coral’s burrowing owl population is declining, and they want the city to create an ordinance to help protect the species.

A 1999 population survey documented 782 burrowing owls in the Cape Coral and 1,757 statewide.

No population survey has been conducted since then.

“By anecdotal observation, we’re not seeing as many burrowing owls now,” said Pascha Donaldson, spokeswoman for Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife. “They’re losing habitat. My guess is the population is going down.”