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w <br />~~ \\ <br />~~1 <br />SI7GGFSTIOIVS FOR HANDLING BURROWING OWL TSSi7F.S ~ ~~ <br />OF ~~ <br />This advice is intended as guidance for those intending [o poison or otherwise impact a prairie <br />dog town. It would also apply to projects involving the live capture of prairie dogs. Burrowing <br />owls live in many prairie dog towns, using unoccupied prairie dog holes for nest sites as well <br />as for roosting. The owls ate ody present in Colorado during the period from about March 1 <br />through October 31. They migrate out of state during the winter, <br />Federal and state laws prohibit the lolling of burrowing owls. IL is quite possible to loll these <br />birds inadverteafly during prairie dog porsoning projects, removal of live prairie dogs, or during <br />earth moving for construction. Since the owls usually hide in burrows when danger approaches, <br />it is not practical to "chase them away" prior m prairie dog control. Bemuse of this, the <br />Division of Wildlife suggests checlong prairie dog towns for burrowing owl presence if any of <br />the above activities are planned between March 1 and October 31. Since they are migratory, <br />it is safe to assume that no burrowing owls will be preseaE during the November 1 to February <br />28 period. The following guidelines are intended as advice on how to determine if burrowing <br />owls are present in a prairie dog Wwn_ <br />1) For Prsirie Dog Towac Small Eaough to be Fav"~q Vrewed from O~ Locstlon: <br />On two consecutive mornings from sunrise until two hours after sunrise, view the prairie dog <br />Down from a good vantage point using high quality binoculars. The owls may be standing oa <br />the mound around a burrow, or often may be perched on fence posts or telephone poles on or <br />near the town. The weather should be reasonably clear and calm with no praapitation since <br />poor weather will cause the owls to be less active and stay below ground. If the weather <br />interferes, the viewing momiags do not need to be consecutive. <br />If no burrowing owls are seen in two mornings of searching, it is lilirly that owls are not using <br />the town. <br />2) For Pran; Ie Dog Towns too Ike to be Viewed fret One Location: <br />Similar tectmiquev to those described above should be used, but two or more stations may need <br />to be used to view the entire town. It may be necessary to spend two mornings at each viewing <br />point, bnt if there is considerable overlap in the area visible from the different points, less time <br />could be spear of each paint. The viewer can use judgement on this based on local conditions <br />at the-time. The bottom line is to devote enough.time seatchirrg_to assure that no.burrowing <br />owls sue present <br />What to do if Burrowing Owls are Presert: <br />If,burrowing owls are confirmed to be present in the dog town, there are two options. <br />(~) <br />