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.
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.
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