Cape Coral neighbor brings attention to caring for burrowing owls

Reporter: Anika Henanger Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Credit: WINK News.

Neighbors are upset with a man who took a weed whacker to nests belonging to burrowing owls in Cape Coral. But the man said he was just trying to cut down the vegetation around the threatened species’ nest. Luckily, none of the owls were harmed.

Regardless, the whole scare for the owl’s safety sparked a conversation on social media among people in Cape Coral. People are now talking about what they can and can’t do when it comes to their lawns with nests on them.

Christopher Specht said he has taken pictures of the burrowing owl nest that was disturbed by the neighbor’s weed whacker for years.

“This nest is set up only about 4 feet from the edge of the road, so there is a lot of traffic,” Specht said.

But that traffic doesn’t compare to the weed whacker Specht said someone took to the grass too close to the nests.

“One of my neighbor’s friends thought it was a good idea to go around the neighborhood with a weed whacker, cutting down the tall grass around the burrowing owl’s nest,” Specht said.

Specht posted about it online, and it gained a lot of attention. Some asked the best way to maintain your lawn when there are nests on it or nearby.

“When doing lawn maintenance, I always try to give them a 35-foot radius around the burrow and not disturb them at all,” landscaper Dan Hawkins said.

Hawkins said that is a best practice for major yard work.

The city’s online guide says to turn the lawn mower around within 10 feet of a burrow.

“More distance is always great,” Specht said.

Other recommendations include letting lawn care services know about the nests if you don’t mow the lawn at home. And it’s best to keep plants near nests cut low, so the owls can see predators.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission also said to eliminate the use of bug and weed killers on lawns with burrowing owls because it can make them sick and kill their food source.

“It’s imperative that these owls grow up to be full-size adults, so they can build their own nest,” Specht said.

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