Text Box: New Mexico Burrowing Owl Working Group
 

 

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Text Box: THREATS TO BURROWING OWLS There are a number of reasons why Burrowing Owls are in decline in some areas. One reason for the overall decline of Burrowing Owls is the destruction and alteration of their habitat.  This has come about largely due to development of grasslands into agricultural croplands and through destruction of prairie dog towns.  Knowledge of why Burrowing Owls are in trouble can help prevent further declines.   Fewer burrows - Burrowing Owls put the finishing touches to their underground nest, but do not do much actual digging. For this, they rely on badgers and ground squirrels, which are often considered pests and killed. Fewer of these digging animals mean fewer nest sites for Burrowing Owls. Lack of Food - Burrowing Owls eat insects and small mammals that tend to live in taller grasses and "weedy" areas. Burrowing Owls need to nest close to these types of areas. Chicks starve when there is not enough food available to the parents. On average, of the nine eggs laid, one will not hatch, while three to six young will not fledge. Hunting perches - Fences, utility poles, hedge-rows and artificial nests for hawks are all new features on the prairie landscape. These perches benefit owl-hunting hawks and may in turn contribute to the decline of the Burrowing Owl. Predation - Although the Burrowing Owl is a predator, it is not at the top of the food chain. Mammals, birds, reptiles, and even house cats kill and eat it. When small mammal populations naturally decline, research suggests that these predators may turn to prey on the Burrowing Owl. Road kill - It is common for Burrowing Owls to die along roads. Young owls in particular hunt and scavenge on and adjacent to roads at dusk until well after dark. Unfortunately, Burrowing Owls are slow flyers and have difficulty escaping oncoming traffic. Pesticides - Grasshoppers are one of the most important foods for the Burrowing Owl, but they are also a pest on farms and ranches. It is still not fully known how chemicals sprayed to kill insect pests affect the Burrowing Owl.