Burrowing Owl

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Athene cunicularia

POPULATION: 2 million

TREND: Decreasing

HABITAT: True to their name, Burrowing Owls live underground, usually in a burrow taken over from a prairie dog, ground squirrel, or tortoise. They sometimes use natural rock cavities and human-made spaces.

THREATS: The owls may even dig burrows themselves in areas of soft or sandy soil. Threats to the Burrowing Owl include habitat loss, pesticide use, and prairie dog eradication programs, which limit suitable burrowing habitat. Many are also killed in collisions with cars.

CONSERVATION: Conservation efforts include retaining and enhancing native habitats, managing livestock grazing to restore and improve grasslands, and minimizing the use of pesticides to maintain invertebrates as a food source.