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
Thousands flock to Burrowing Owl Fest
On Saturday, thousands of people came to Rotary Park, some of them having to walk a half mile because it was the closest place to park, to learn not only about the owl, but to see other animals and learn about how we can do our part to save the bird, other species and the environment.
Thousands of dollars raised to protect burrowing owls at annual Cape Coral festival
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife raised thousands of dollars to protect the city’s threatened species. More than 4,600 people attended the 18th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival at Rotary Park.
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.
Floridians and their Scrub-Jay: Can they coexist?
In many ways, the Florida Scrub-Jay is the symbol for Florida’s bird story. On the one hand, Florida is near the top of the list of states for its number of resident and migratory species. On the other, it’s struggling to keep from losing several of its most prominent indigenous birds, including the Scrub-Jay.
Brewery in Cape Coral launches beer to help burrowing owls
A Southwest Florida brewery says it’s come up with a beer to help Cape Coral’s official bird: the burrowing owl.
Burrowing owl nest destroyed in Cape Coral
Owl burrow destroyed by home construction in SW Cape Coral.
Purple martins setting up house in Cape Coral on annual migration
In early April, the houses, 12 each on four poles at Sirenia Vista Park in Cape Coral, remained empty, waiting for the thousands of purple martins to arrive on their annual migration north from South America.
Cape Coral to consider preserving land for gopher tortoises
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is working with the City of Cape Coral to designate land in a Northwest Cape Coral neighborhood for gopher tortoise habitat.
Cape Coral could designate city-owned land for gopher tortoise habitat
Cape Coral environmental activists are pushing for more protections for gopher tortoises in the city, through an ordinance and the designation of a preserve.
Cape Coral’s purple martins: What you should know about these peculiar part-time residents
With more than 30 years of experience watching and studying the purple martins, Cheryl Anderson has a strong grip on the birds’ behaviors and is the person to ask pressing questions such as:
Burrowing Owl Videos
Watch a collection of captivating burrowing videos
On a Mission: Cape Coral Wildlife Trust finding homes for gopher tortoises, burrowing owls
Two of Cape Coral’s best-known residents, the gopher tortoise and the burrowing owl, will soon be living in protected lots all over the city.