It’s the non-breeding season for burrowing owls (September 1 through January 31). According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), this is the time of year when we are allowed, with CDFW approval, to passively relocate burrowing owls. Once February 1 hits, CDFW will not allow passive relocation until the following September 1.
To avoid costly project delays, now is the time to assess your project for burrowing owls if construction is scheduled to begin Spring-Summer 2014. If owls are occupying burrows within a project, CDFW may impose a no-impact buffer of 500 meters around the burrow through the entire nesting season (February 1 through August 31).
Burrowing owls are naturally found in open prairie landscapes, such as the grasslands of California’s Central Valley. In addition, burrowing owls are known to flourish in many man-made landscapes including farmlands, golf courses, vacant urban lots, abandoned construction sites, rural residential areas, roadsides, and many others. Aside from the Central Valley, they can be found throughout California except in higher elevations and forested landscapes. ECORP biologists have worked closely with CDFW on previous passive relocation projects throughout northern and southern California. Please contact Scott Taylor at (909) 307-0046 for projects in southern California or Keith Kwan at (916) 782-9100 for projects in northern California. .
