Owl ‘eviction’ plan appealed

A Cape resident is appealing a Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission decision that gives the city of Cape Coral permission to remove a burrowing owl nest from a downtown park where the city holds one of its biggest events each year.

Christopher Specht is disputing the permit the FWC granted the city to “evict” the owls from Bernice Braden Park near the Cape Coral Bridge. He said in the complaint that he watches and photographs the owls regularly near his home.

An FWC official was informed prior to the decision that there was an “allegation of purgery and misrepresentations” but issued the permit to allow the nest to be filled anyway, he alleges. Among them was the usage of the park, where Forth of July fireworks are launched as part of Red White& BOOM!