Burrowing Owls

Burrowing owls have dotted California fields and hills for centuries. An account from the 1860s says, “burrowing owls stood on every little knoll” in the state. Today there are only a handful of nesting pairs of these owls in Yolo County, down sharply from the 63 Yolo pairs counted in 2007 in a statewide survey. Although the species isn’t listed as threatened or endangered on a federal level, it is considered a “species of special concern.” Davis and its surrounding fields are home to a substantial number of these endearing, precious raptors. Get an inside look at the life cycle and habits of our treasured burrowing owls and learn about the ongoing work to preserve this species from habitat destruction and other threats.