Help Cape Coral Wildlife

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Volunteers from Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and Cape Coral Wildlife Trust receive special training before performing burrowing owl monitoring and maintenance tasks, adhering to FWC and City of Cape Coral regulations. Here are a few of the guidelines: Trim grass, weeds, and bushes no less than 5" in height within 10' of the burrow entrance, use a light-weight weed trimmer, stand on the sandy mound opposite the hole,  not on the area behind the entrance,  or you will collapse the tunnel,

Surrounding foraging habitat on-site should be kept low and open to provide burrowing owls with an unobstructed view of potential predators.

Vegetation or manmade structures must be placed at least ten feet from the burrow.

These plants and structures will prevent the owl from viewing his surroundings. He must be able to detect predators and find food. 

Lot Signage

Posting can be an effective way to reduce encroachment within recommended buffers, to minimize disturbance, and to reduce the probability of burrow collapse. Cape Coral Wildlife Trust utilizes perches, FWC regulation signs and pvc piping to mark the location of burrows.

Posting and signage must be kept at least 10 ft. from the burrow entrance to avoid puncturing the tunnel.

Educational signage also can be posted. Care should be taken to place signage in a manner that maintains visibility for burrowing owls and is far enough away for people to read the sign without approaching too close to the burrow. 

Interested groups can obtain burrowing owl signage by contacting the FWC’s Species Conservation Planning staff at the Southwest Regional Office, 863- 648-3200, or South Regional Office, 561-625-5122. Contacts for other regional offices are available on the FWC’s website. 

Signs and postings require the property owner’s permission.

STARTER BURROW REQUIREMENTS

 There are two types of starter burrows – traditional, which mimics the natural burrow, and artificial, created with man-made materials. * Only those willing to pledge a long-term commitment need apply. 

In order for CCFW to determine whether you are eligible to participate in this program, you will 

need to answer the following questions: 

1. What is your address?
2. Do you own your home? Starter burrows are only available to renters with the written consent of the homeowner. 
3. Do you or your neighbors have outdoor cats/front yard dogs? Do you or a lawn service treat your lawn with chemicals? 
4.  Do you have large bushes or trees in your front yard?Will you maintain the burrow by keeping grass and weeds around it trimmed?  
5. Will you monitor the burrow regularly, reporting incidences of harassment, injury or vandalism to Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, Cape Coral’s Code Enforcement, Florida Fish & Wildlife? 
6.  Will you notify Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife should you decide to move from this residence? 

*ASK US ABOUT INSTALLING AN ARTIFICIAL BURROWING OWL BURROW* 

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife Burrowing Owl Hotline #: 239-980-2593  ccfriendsofwildlife.org

Research by Dr. John Herman and his team at Florida Gulf Coast University on Cape Coral's Gopher Tortoises was published in Southeastern Naturalist magazine.(Steuben, Me), Vol.22(2) 

The research demonstrated that "the urban gopher tortoise populations in Cape Coral represent a self-sustaining viable conservation unit".

For this reason, Dr. Herman "fully supports and encourages the establishment of a land trust of current vacant lots…for the conservation of gopher tortoises specifically and wildlife in general".

Read more here:

https://bioone.org/journals/southeastern-naturalist/volume-22/issue-2/058.022.0203/Movement-Ecology-of-Gopher-Tortoises-in-a-Residential-Neighborhood-in/10.1656/058.022.0203.short

More than 350 other species - burrowing owls, coyotes, snakes, foxes, mice and more use tortoise burrows to seek shelter and escape heat, fires, and predators. 

The gopher tortoise is considered a "keystone species". Conservation Biologist Rachel King of Florida Fish & Wildlife further explained, "If they disappear from the environment, the ecosystem will collapse on itself'. 

 Research Creators:

Matthew Metcalf - Florida Gulf Coast University
Jade Johnson - Florida Gulf Coast University
Alexandra Cooper - Florida Gulf Coast University
Alexander Marsh - Florida Gulf Coast University
Charles W. Gunnels - Florida Gulf Coast University
John Herman - Florida Gulf Coast University

Those who intentionally harass or harm the burrowing owls/ gopher tortoises or collapse their burrows will be subject to penalties ranging from a $500 fine to 60 days in jail.

Link to City Code:

https://librarystage.municode.com/fl/cape_coral/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH23PRSP