The passionate defenders of Cape Coral’s burrowing owls are livid now that tractors are clearing debris from Hurricane Ian out of the city’s canals and possibly crushing dozens of owl and gopher tortoise burrows.
Watch ABC-7’s coverage of Cape Coral’s Ground Owl Day, Feb 2, 2023.
Ian resulted in the deaths of at least 130 people and displaced thousands more. Now, as residents begin to rebuild, questions remain about the future of its diverse, critically important native species.
Despite howling winds and flooding waters from Hurricane Ian, Mr. Lucky – because he’s also Mr. Smarty – survived. As did most of his friends.
The storm left the birds without a place to go back to, and many of them were injured. The owls are all over our community, and without a home, they’ll become scarce.
Florida is known for its phenomenal wildlife, for the birds and beasts that comb our swamps and roam our beautiful shores. So what exactly happened to all the beautiful and bountiful animals?
Neighbors in a Fort Myers neighborhood claim the developers are displacing the burrowing owls. One neighbor sent in a photo of two burrowing owls on her front porch.
On this Sunday morning, Anderson and Collier are helping with the sixth annual census of Cape Coral’s 3,000-plus burrowing owls, the largest population in Florida – and likely on the planet.
Beverly Ahlering Saltonstall’s book “Cape Coral Burrowing Owls Don’t Hoot” tells you all you need to know about the tiny avian.
Neighbors in one Cape Coral neighborhood say they’re keeping an eye out for a pick up truck caught on camera driving through an empty lot that’s bustling with gopher tortoise burrows.
Enjoy snapping photos of wildlife or can’t get enough of the city’s official bird? The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is now accepting entries for its annual Burrowing Owl Photo Contest.
A Cape Coral woman is heartbroken after finding a beloved burrowing owl lying on its face near its burrow in her front yard.
The storm left the birds without a place to go back to, and many of them were injured. The owls are all over our community, and without a home, they’ll become scarce.
Green Day, an iguana that has lived 10-plus years at Rotary Park after falling out of a tree, will get a new cage that meets new state requirements related to invasive species.
A Cape Coral park’s main attraction is at risk of being euthanized if local groups and the city don’t act quickly.
WGCU goes in search of feathered friends by way of the 20th Annual Burrowing Owl Festival in Cape Coral
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Protecting the official bird of Cape Coral is a top priority for wildlife groups. The burrowing owl has gone from being classified as a species of special concern to the threatened species list.
