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Protect Saskatchewan's Burrowing Owls!

Target: Deputy Minister Liz Quarshie, Ministry of the Environment of the Province of Saskatchewan
Sponsored by: Care2

Burrowing owls are in trouble. We have been losing them at a rate of 16 to 24 percent a year, with less than 1000 pairs left in Canada. They need our help!

Having virtually disappeared from British Columbia and Manitoba, they are restricted to the grasslands of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Much of the western Canadian prairie has been transformed for agricultural use, leaving the owls with limited grass to eat.

Besides grasslands, they also need burrows to nest in. They rely on other animals to make burrows, such as prairie dogs, badgers and gophers. Unfortunately, these animals are seen as pests and are often killed--sometimes with poisons that can kill the owls as well.

The government of Saskatchewan passed the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act in 1984 and the Wildlife Act in 1998, but given the continuing decline of burrowing owls, this is not enough! Tell the government we need stricter measures to save burrowing owls while there's still time.

deadline: 8-28-2009
goal: 10,000
 
3,994
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Dear Deputy Minister Liz Quarshie,

Burrowing owls are disappearing at the alarming rate of 16 to 24 percent a year. Despite legislation passed to protect wildlife, there are less than 1000 pairs of owls remaining.

There are a number of reasons why the owls are declining, but a major one is the destruction of their habitat. Much of the western Canadian prairie has been transformed for agricultural use, leaving the owls with limited grass to eat.

Besides grasslands, they also need burrows to nest in. They rely on other animals to make burrows, such as prairie dogs, badgers and gophers. Unfortunately, these animals are seen as pests and are often killed--sometimes with poisons that can kill the owls as well. Burrowing owls also fall prey to pesticides and to roaming pet dogs and cats.

Because burrowing owls' survival is partially dependent on other wildlife, it is necessary to enforce stricter measures to protect our lands and native species. I urge you to take action and pass stronger measures to ensure the well being of Saskatchewan's wildlife.

[Your comments here]

Sincerely,
[Your name here]
We signed the “Protect Saskatchewan's Burrowing Owls!” petition!
# 3,995:
11:48 pm PDT, Jun 28, Lynn Sater, Canada
Please act before it is too late. Consider educating the public.
# 3,994:
8:49 am PDT, Jun 27, Julien Ruelle, Belgium
# 3,993:
1:07 pm PDT, Jun 25, Name not displayed, Illinois
# 3,992:
6:34 pm PDT, Jun 24, Feona Willow, California
# 3,991:
10:35 am PDT, Jun 21, Erica Champagne, Canada
# 3,990:
2:51 am PDT, Jun 20, Denisszia Gerocz, Romania
# 3,989:
10:59 pm PDT, Jun 19, Chantel Williams, Canada
# 3,988:
6:48 am PDT, Jun 12, Anna Harvey, Canada
# 3,987:
10:35 am PDT, Jun 11, Saghar Mahmoody, Canada
# 3,986:
8:27 am PDT, Jun 11, Kira Desorcy, Canada
# 3,985:
7:05 pm PDT, Jun 10, Joan Roberts, Canada
# 3,984:
3:26 pm PDT, Jun 10, Tobin MacIntosh, Canada
# 3,983:
8:33 am PDT, Jun 10, Tracy Tiefenbach, Canada
# 3,982:
7:52 am PDT, Jun 10, Leanne Elliott, Canada
# 3,981:
9:25 am PDT, Jun 9, Victoria Rust, West Virginia
# 3,980:
6:35 am PDT, Jun 9, Melissa Migliazza, Canada
# 3,979:
10:37 pm PDT, Jun 8, Mike Palandra, Canada
# 3,978:
9:34 am PDT, Jun 8, Lisa Shaw, Canada
# 3,977:
12:02 am PDT, Jun 8, Tatiana Costa, Brazil
# 3,976:
6:48 am PDT, Jun 7, Vera Lucia Fujimoto, Brazil
# 3,975:
6:44 am PDT, Jun 7, Malcolm Mcculloch, Canada
# 3,974:
6:31 pm PDT, Jun 4, Marco Ramirez, Canada
# 3,973:
4:57 pm PDT, Jun 4, Sofia Neves-silva, Canada
# 3,972:
3:57 pm PDT, Jun 4, Frida Simms, Virginia
# 3,971:
2:27 pm PDT, Jun 4, Chiara Rognone, Italy
As a biologist I'm very concerned about destruction of natural habitats and potential loss of biological diversity.
# 3,970:
3:35 pm PDT, Jun 3, Melissa Smith, Canada
# 3,969:
3:10 pm PDT, Jun 3, Gus Comeau, Canada
# 3,968:
9:16 am PDT, Jun 1, JASMIN HORST SEILER, Canada
# 3,967:
4:26 am PDT, May 31, Lesley Sinden, United Kingdom
# 3,966:
10:00 pm PDT, May 30, Timothy Sprengeler, Iowa
# 3,965:
7:53 pm PDT, May 29, Devyn Martinson, Canada
# 3,964:
6:16 am PDT, May 29, Jason Navarro, Canada
# 3,963:
4:58 am PDT, May 29, Odile Moreau, Canada
# 3,962:
10:13 am PDT, May 28, Jeannie M. Ferguson, Canada
# 3,961:
3:53 pm PDT, May 27, Melanie Jillen, Canada
# 3,960:
1:28 pm PDT, May 27, Name not displayed, Canada
# 3,959:
3:23 pm PDT, May 26, Amanda Daniell, Canada
# 3,958:
7:58 am PDT, May 26, Name not displayed, Canada
# 3,957:
11:07 pm PDT, May 21, Bassam Imam, Canada
GOD has blessed our nation with countless beautiful wildlife species. The burrowing owl needs our help. We should ensure that this remarkable species does not go extinct. Best Regards, Bassam Imam Montreal, Canada
# 3,956:
7:02 pm PDT, May 20, Chelsea Welsh, Canada
# 3,954:
10:23 am PDT, May 18, Name not displayed, Canada
# 3,955:
10:22 am PDT, May 18, Luisa Chan, Canada
# 3,953:
11:44 pm PDT, May 17, Lani Steed, Canada
# 3,952:
12:13 am PDT, May 16, Denis Salmon, Belgium
# 3,951:
10:14 pm PDT, May 15, James Berry, Canada
As the passing of the Wildlife Habitat Protection Act in 1984 and the Wildlife Act in 1998 make clear, the government and people of Saskatchewan recognize the importance and value of preserving endangered animal species. The Burrowing Owl is a unique and distinctive creature that is quickly losing access to the habitats it needs to thrive; its declining population serves as a grim landmark for the well being of Saskatchewan's wildlife as a whole. By taking action and ensuring new environmental and animal protection legislation is passed, you can proudly signal a renewed commitment to protecting the profound beauty and majesty of nature that all Canadians cherish.
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