In the late 1970s there were about 2,100 breeding pairs left in Canada. By 1987, the population had dropped by half, with 700 pairs remaining in Alberta. After continued decline, burrowing owl status was upgraded from threatened to endangered this year.
Species Appearance
Burrowing owls look like short, fat owls on stilts. They often stand upright on long, thin legs to see farther over the prairie.
Mainly insects, some rodents, toads, small birds and dead animals.
Risks to the Specie
Cultivation and development have significantly reduced the owls habitat. Burrowing owls require open areas with low ground cover, existing burrows and abundant food all of which are threatened on the prairies. Owls rely entirely on burrowing animals for their nests, and many of these animals are exterminated as pests. Burrowing owls have also been killed accidentally as a result of poison programs aimed at pests and insects.
