If you’ve followed college football or spent any amount of time in Florida, you know the rivalry between the University of Florida (UF) and Florida State University (FSU) is one of the big ones. My husband was raised a Gator fan from childhood, so my employment with UF further cemented the whole family’s fandom. Last week we were talking about their upcoming game against Florida Atlantic University (FAU), and he noted the Gator Nation Football Podcast had recently mentioned their mascots were named “Owlsley” and “Hoot.” Curious, we found the school lore holds that Owlsley and Hoot were introduced to one another by a mutual gopher tortoise friend.
Now my curiosity was totally piqued. “Wait!” I said, “Is their mascot actually a burrowing owl?” Because of course it would be easier for a fictional gopher tortoise to befriend an owl living on the ground than one nesting in a tree. Investigating further, we found the FAU mascot is indeed a burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia). The Boca Raton campus was designated a sanctuary for the species by the National Audubon Society in 1971, just 10 years after the university’s founding.
Thus, an idea was hatched. In celebration of football season and Florida wildlife, for the next several months I’ll highlight the refreshing number of native species representing our universities and their athletic endeavors.
Florida is home to five gorgeous owl species. But, the burrowing owl is unique in its nesting area—an underground burrow instead of a tree. Over the years this species has been controversial, as their presence in flat, dry, open spaces that seem ideal for development can actually slow it. Burrowing owls have been loved and reviled, much like our unassuming Perdido Key beach mouse. In fact, the entire plot of famed Florida author Carl Hiassen’s young adult novel (and movie adaptation), “Hoot” is based on the plight of a threatened burrowing owl population. While Florida has had declines over the past 50 years, populations are still healthy. Burrowing owls are protected by the Migratory Bird Act and considered a species of “low” conservation concern. Canada and Mexico have additional protective measures for the species, as the typical threats to birds—habitat decline due to development, pesticides, and predation by pets—have impacted the owls.
Burrowing owls typically co-occur in regions with other ground-dwelling species, adopting burrows built by gopher tortoises, prairie dogs, and armadillos. Open fields with loose, dry soil on a slight elevation to prevent flooding are considered prime habitat, although they can utilize similar urban areas like golf courses, airports, and cemeteries. Barring any natural habitat, they will also use discarded human material, like PVC pipes and buckets.
A larger population lives in the desert southwest of the United States, skipping most of the southeast until reaching Florida and the Caribbean, where burrowing owls may use their beaks and feet to dig their own burrows. The birds typically line burrow openings with other animals’ feces to attract dung beetles, providing a steady food source and masking their own scent. These southeastern regions have year-round populations, but those living in the western United States may head north seasonally to breed.
Unlike typical owls, burrowing owls (particularly females) are active during the daylight. While they may fly or hover, they mostly walk or run along the ground to catch insects and worms. Females typically leave the night shift for the males to snag larger prey like rabbits, lizards, and smaller birds. With this nonstop hunting, they can stash large amounts of food in their underground cellars. Nesting pairs are monogamous and breed in colonies near other owls, exhibiting a gender-based division of labor with females staying near the chicks and males defending the territory. Males and females are the same size, averaging about 8” tall, with yellow eyes and long legs. They blend into their surroundings with brown and white feathers, although coastal birds in Florida and the Caribbean tend to have more white patches. Juveniles can be fun to watch–they will pounce on each other, play-fight, and turn their flexible necks nearly upside down!
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