Comments on: Burrowing Owl Mitigation is Eradication and Eviction

By: DougJ

DougJ — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 03:31:23 +0000

Hello,
Hopefully I did not miss something…
I am trying to eradicate my property and the neighbors (total ~14 acres) of the California Brown (burrowing) squirrel. This rodent is devasting our properties and foundations, major damage and expense.
There use to be a large population of owls in the area and at that time no squirrels. In the great wisdom of our local water district the nesting trees of the owl were removed to protect the irrigation canal from the roots of the tree. Now the canal is being destoryed by the ground squirrel! Not very smart management people. Away, how does someone return the owl population to their area? I am willing to create the necessary nesting areas, but need a resource for how-to for the nesting, culivation, breeding, and purchase. Help?!

By: JournOwl » Burrowing Owls: No Homes for the Holidays?

JournOwl » Burrowing Owls: No Homes for the Holidays? — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:24:37 +0000

[...] .: Project- Antioch Burrowing Owls :. December 14th I received the burrowing owl Mitigation/Relocation documents from the city. Contained within the information was a letter from the California Dept. of Fish & Game approving the plan and giving written notice that the eviction of the owls and eradication of the ground squirrel population can proceed. According to the letter, the plan must be enacted between Oct. 1, 2009 and Feb. 1, 2010. For additional details from the report and the situation please check out Burrowing Owl Mitigation is Eradication and Eviction [...]

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:10:56 +0000

This is taking place in the East Bay…Contra Costa County (Antioch, CA). I was on site yesterday and had a chance to speak with the priciple biologist whose Team is performing the eviction. Thus I’ll be working on an update and posting some new photos.

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:44:39 +0000

This is insane, extremely upsetting and frustrating. This is outside of the Bay area? Please keep us updated. Now I’m all worked up, grrr.
Jill´s last blog ..Glacial Reflection

By: Wildlife in the News « Bay Area Wildlife Blog

Wildlife in the News « Bay Area Wildlife Blog — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:28:34 +0000

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By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:54:27 +0000

I completely agree Pat. The plan calls for the consulting firm to block the burrows. As the owls move to new ones on the land in question those burrows will also be fitted with one-way doors. Once owls leave a burrow the door is removed and it is caved in to prevent their return.

Then the squirrels will be fumigated. At this point they cannot use poison squirrel bait because the presence of green grasses provide an antidote to the poison and make it ineffective.

Simply put, the owls are forced to leave and find a new suitable home/habitat.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:46:26 +0000

Larry, I have asked the city and the developer if there is a proposed date for beginning the eviction of the owls. According to the paperwork it must be done between Oct. 1 and Feb 1. The main reason being to avoid owl breeding season. I am also keeping my fingers crossed that development stalls for this new builder and lapses past Feb.

I am not sure why they use passive mitigation but from what I have seen there is no consideration for directly moving the owls to a suitable spot. Additionally, from what I understand mitigation is done without any oversight by the USFWS or CDFG…except for paperwork and reports.

I’ll give a call to see what we can come up with. I have also notified the paper, Bay Nature Magazine (who currently has a story pending) and the Center for Biological Diversity.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:39:12 +0000

Thanks Patti, continue to check back as I will post any updates I receive.

By: Pat Bumstead

Pat Bumstead — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:57:22 +0000

Relocated where? Have they given any indication as to where their new home might be? Or are they just going to throw them up in the air and expect them to fly away? Poisoning rodents will certainly ensure they don’t have any raptors to worry about in the future. This isn’t a solution, it’s a cop-out from the officials who are supposed to be protecting wildlife.
Pat Bumstead´s last blog ..Crap It’s Cold Out There

By: MartinezBeavers.org » Blog Archive » Owl Eviction

MartinezBeavers.org » Blog Archive » Owl Eviction — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:37:12 +0000

[...] In short, the owls will be passively relocated through the use of one-way doors and the California ground squirrel population on the land will be fumigated.