Burrowing owls are considered endangered in Canada and threatened in Mexico. Get started with owl conservation today in fun, creative ways! Unlike other owls, burrowing owls are not strictly nocturnal, being as active during the day as they are at night. Despite their protected status, burrowing owls are often displaced and their burrows destroyed during the development process. The natural life span of the Burrowing Owl is 6-8 years.
Threats to habitat include construction activities development and harassment by humans and domesticated animals. The greatest threat to burrowing owls is habitat destruction and degradation caused primarily by land development and ground squirrel/prairie dog control measures.
The burrowing owl isn't your average owl: It doesn't live in trees, and it's not nocturnal. But human population explosion has reduced the charismatic western burrowing owl's breeding populations by more than 60 percent, and counting. They are also considered endangered, threatened or of special concern in nine U.S. states.
Climate threats facing the Burrowing Owl Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The most dangerous threats to owls include: Poison : Poisons used to kills rats, mice, and other rodents remain in the animals’ bodies and can poison owls that may prey on those rodents after they are contaminated. The burrowing owls’ predicament began with the decimation of prairie dogs, whose population has declined 95 percent in its range across the West. It makes its nest underground — usually in abandoned rodent burrows — and is active both day and night.
The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too. Threats to the Burrowing Owl include habitat loss, pesticide use, and prairie dog eradication programs, which limit suitable burrowing habitat. Many are also killed in collisions with cars. Heavy floods can destroy burrows in the ground, which can cause the destruction of eggs and young.
The main threat is the continued loss of habitat. 10 easy ways anyone can help owls, no matter what their birding experience or budget. The burrowing owl faces many threats to its population.