The Western Burrowing Owl, with its striking yellow eyes and endearing, quirky nature, is teetering on the edge of extinction in California. Once widespread, these small ground-dwelling owls have seen their numbers dwindle across the state, leaving them vulnerable to habitat destruction, urban sprawl, and other human activities. Now is the time to act before it’s too late.

The Threats Facing the Western Burrowing Owl

California’s rapid expansion into grasslands and other open spaces has driven Western Burrowing Owls out of their natural habitats. These unique owls live in burrows, often repurposed from those abandoned by ground squirrels, in flat, open areas where they can hunt insects and small mammals. But the very lands they depend on are being lost at an alarming rate as development encroaches further into their territory. In the Bay Area alone, fewer than 25 breeding pairs remain, down from hundreds just a few decades ago¹.

Without suitable habitats, these owls face a bleak future. Wind farms and other renewable energy projects, while important for a sustainable future, are also putting the owls at risk. Turbines can be fatal for these poor fliers, whose populations cannot sustain the additional loss². As pesticides and rodenticides continue to permeate the owls’ habitats, they poison not only the insects and small animals these owls consume but also the owls themselves. This combination of threats has taken a severe toll on their numbers, pushing them closer to extinction.

A Unique Bird, A Unique Role

The Western Burrowing Owl is not just another species at risk; it plays an essential role in California’s grassland ecosystems. By hunting small mammals and insects, these owls help to naturally control pest populations. Furthermore, their presence encourages biodiversity by maintaining the balance in delicate ecosystems that are already under threat from climate change and habitat loss³.

Because they often inhabit burrows that were first dug by ground squirrels, Western Burrowing Owls are closely linked to the fate of other species in their environment. When rodenticides target ground squirrels, it doesn’t just eliminate the owl’s shelter; it affects the entire ecological web in which these owls exist. For California, losing the burrowing owl would mean more than just losing a bird; it would signify the degradation of the ecosystem that they help sustain.

Protecting Our Natural Heritage

Earlier this year, conservation groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife, filed a petition to classify the Western Burrowing Owl as endangered under California’s Endangered Species Act⁴. Recently, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to advance the owl’s candidate status, granting it temporary protections as the Department of Fish and Wildlife conducts a thorough review of its status. However, this candidate status alone won’t be enough to ensure the owls’ survival in the long term. Permanent endangered status would protect their habitats from further destruction and impose restrictions on land development that currently displaces these birds.

We have a responsibility to act with compassion and protect these owls from extinction. The time for action is now. By signing this petition, you can show your support for the Western Burrowing Owl and help secure the permanent protections it needs to survive.

Sign the Petition Now

Join the movement to save California’s Western Burrowing Owl. Your signature could make the difference between extinction and survival for this unique bird.

More on this issue:

1. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times (2 August 2024), "A renewed bid to protect burrowing owls is advancing. What changed?."
2. Callie Fausey, Santa Barbara’s Independent (11 October 2024), "Western Burrowing Owl Becomes Endangered Species ‘Candidate’."
3. Stanford Conservation Program, "Western Burrowing Owl."
4. Katy St. Clair, Bay City News (11 October 2024), "California considers endangered status for western burrowing owls amid rapid decline."