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
Watch: WGCU goes in search of feathered friends by way of the 20th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival
WGCU goes in search of feathered friends by way of the 20th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival in Cape Coral
2022 Cape Coral Pride Parade
Cape Coral’s citizen sanctuary
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife has spent about $450,000 purchasing four dozen plots and are negotiating to buy five more. The 300-member group has been amassing the citizen sanctuary since 2002.
Cape Coral works to protect burrowing owls as nesting season begins
It’s officially burrowing owl nesting season and the City of Cape Coral is working to protect the species. Burrowing owls and their nests are not allowed to be disturbed from February 15 through July 10.
Punxsutawney Phil? Pshaw. Burrowing owl to predict the brrrr
Cape Coral, Florida, is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, its population up nearly 98 percent to more than 204,000 since 2000. Construction is booming, a plus for the economy but disastrous for area wildlife—especially ground-nesting burrowing owls.
2022 Cape Coral Art Festival
This weekend's Cape Coral Art Festival was a fantastic event, and a big round of applause goes to the Cape Coral Rotary Club for organizing an outstanding festival. CCFW had the pleasure of welcoming numerous visitors to our booth, where they had the chance to snap...
Conservationists say they were blindsided by gopher tortoise waiver benefitting developers
Florida conservationists said they were blindsided by an executive order last month that allows developers to relocate threatened gopher tortoises anywhere in the state.
Looking for a unique gift? How about adopting a burrowing owl
If you are at a loss as to what to give your friends and loved ones this holiday season, how about adopting a burrowing owl for everyone on your list?
Environmental advocates worry gopher tortoises will lose protections
Environmental advocates fear the gopher tortoise could lose some protections after a state agency decided to temporarily give developers more flexibility on where gopher tortoises can be relocated.
CCFW: Owl ‘adoption’ makes a great gift for the holidays
Looking to fill your favorite animal lover’s stocking this year? The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is hoping the public will adopt a burrowing owl this holiday season to help ensure the future home of Cape Coral’s official bird in a rapidly developing city.
Trick-or-Treaters run over, trample several owl burrows, conservation group says
At least four owl burrows were damaged or completely destroyed in Cape Coral over the Halloween weekend. “It’s not crushed in, so that’s the good news,” said Pascha Donaldson, the vice president of Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife.
CCFW opposes harvesting saw palmetto berries in 20/20 preserves
The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife has sent the following letter in opposition to the harvesting of saw palmetto berries in Lee County 20/20 preserves to the county manager, copying all Lee County commissioners.