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.
The petition requests endangered status for the species in southwestern California, central-western California and the San Francisco Bay Area, and threatened states in the Central Valley and southern desert range.
“These fascinating ground-dwelling owls need relief from their homes being bulldozed for irresponsible development,” said Jeff Miller with the Center for Biological Diversity.
The group contends the owls have suffered habitat loss from exurban sprawl, converting grasslands to ag lands and large-scale wind and solar energy development.
Petitioners include the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Burrowing Owl Preservation Society, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Urban Bird Foundation, Central Valley Bird Club and San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society.
