Burrowing owl could be listed under CA’s ESA

The California Fish and Game Commission voted to protect western burrowing owls as a “candidate” species under the state’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) following a petition led by environmental groups.

The owls will be protected while the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducts a full status review, which could take 12 to 18 months. The commission will then vote on whether to protect the owls as “endangered” or “threatened” under California’s ESA.

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Greens seek CA owl protections

A group of environmental groups recently petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission to protect five populations of the western burrowing owl under the state’s Endangered Species Act.

“With burrowing owls no longer found in one-third of their former territory statewide, these temporary protections aren’t coming a moment too soon,” said Pamela Flick with Defenders of Wildlife, one of the petitioners.