California Commission Votes to Protect Burrowing Owls

The California Fish and Game Commission has voted to grant candidate status to the western burrowing owl, providing temporary protections under the California Endangered Species Act while a comprehensive status review is conducted over the next 12 to 18 months. This decision comes as the owl faces significant population declines, with reports indicating they have been wiped out as a breeding species along most of the California coast and are nearing extinction in the Bay Area, where only around 25 breeding pairs remain. The Center for Biological Diversity highlighted that the species has lost habitat due to urban sprawl, agriculture, and other human-related activities. The commission's vote follows petitions from multiple conservation groups advocating for the owls’ protection. If the review confirms their endangered status, it would require state and local agencies to mitigate threats to their habitat, including halting removals related to development. Conservation advocates express cautious optimism, noting that these protections are crucial for the survival of this unique species, which is the only owl that nests underground.