Burrowing Owl

Various sub species of burrowing owls live in grasslands in North and South America. Burrowing owl range in B C is in the Okanagan-Similkameen and south Thompson basins. Since 1928, only three nest sites have been found. There was one at Chopaka in the lower Similkameen Valley (1943), another at Okanagan Landing (it lasted until 1963), and a third on the West Bench near Penticton (1970). Burrowing Owls in this area were designated threatened in 1979 and reconfirmed as threatened in 1991. Upon re-examination in 1995, the Burrowing Owl was listed as endangered. They are now found only at reintroduction sites near Osoyoos/Haynes Lease and Kamloops.

The continued survival and stabilization of the BC population would be more likely as a result of a stronger and more vigoursly enforced Canadian Species at Risk Law, the enactment of a BC stand alone endangered species law, and the designation of the South Okanagan Similameen National Park.

For more information on Burrowing Owls in BC go to:

http://www.burrowingowlbc.org/

For more information on the status of Burrowing Owls throughout Canada go to:

http://www.mb.ec.gc.ca/nature/endspecies/burrowing/db04s05.en.html

For more information on Burrowing Owls throughout North and South America go to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrowing_Owl