Home Improvement

Most of us have been frustrated with the limited opportunity to get out and enjoy wild animals through this pandemic. Though I have been able to knock out the “honey do” list, there is an emptiness that can not be filled with home improvements, or so I thought. There are ways to attract beneficial wild animals to your home and Cape Coral is on the map for having the largest population of the Florida species of the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridana) in the State, with an estimated 1000 nesting pairs within a 100 square mile radius. It’s among the smallest of all owls and the only owl in the world that lives underground. Our Florida species is unique in its tendency to dig it’s own burrow rather than reuse abandon prairie dog burrows as the western species does. I spoke at length with Cheryl Anderson of Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and she described a program in which residents of Cape Coral are encouraged to attract these owls onto the property of homeowners to provide a safe habitat in which they can thrive (and be admired). The owls, like any other owl, are birds of prey, and as such, provide a valuable service to homeowners by hunting mice, roaches, small snakes and a other animals that some folks would rather not have around the house. If you are looking for a home project that can benufit both the animal and the community, consider attracting burrowing owls to your property. If you would like more information, or help with establishing an environment for these beautiful owls on your property reach out to me and I’ll help you get started.