The California Fish and Game Commission has voted unanimously to grant western burrowing owls “candidate” status under the California Endangered Species Act, marking a crucial step toward their protection.
“After decades of efforts to safeguard the dwindling populations of burrowing owls in California, the species is finally receiving much-needed interim protections,” said Pamela Flick, California program director at Defenders of Wildlife. “With burrowing owls now absent from one-third of their historic range across the state, these temporary measures couldn’t have come at a more critical time.”
The species will be protected while the California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducts a thorough status review, a process that may take 12 to 18 months. Once the review is complete, the commission will vote on whether to officially list the burrowing owl as endangered or threatened under state law.
“For the first time in a long time, there’s hope for California’s rapidly vanishing burrowing owls, who are in dire need of protection,” said Jeff Miller, senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The population has been decimated by reckless sprawl development that bulldozes their habitats. I’m relieved they’re safe for now, and I’m hopeful for permanent protections for these charming little owls.”
In March, a coalition of environmental groups—including the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, the Burrowing Owl Preservation Society, and several bird conservation societies—filed a petition urging the state to grant endangered or threatened status to the at-risk populations of burrowing owls.
As the only owl species that nests and roosts underground, burrowing owls have faced substantial habitat loss due to sprawling developments, the conversion of grasslands into agricultural lands, and the expansion of wind and solar energy infrastructure. The reduction of ground squirrels and other burrowing mammals, whose dens provide vital nesting sites, has only worsened the situation. Additionally, these owls are frequently harmed by rodenticides, wind turbine collisions, and vehicle strikes.
Listing burrowing owls under the California Endangered Species Act would compel state and local agencies to address these threats, including halting policies that allow owls to be removed from development sites. It could also introduce stronger measures to mitigate habitat loss and ensure the owls’ survival.