A Cape Coral burrowing owl stands guard near its burrow, a fragile life amid human development. In the fields and neighborhoods of Southwest Florida, tiny burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia floridana) peek out from their underground homes—watching, nesting, surviving. These pint-sized raptors, standing just 9 inches tall, add charm and character to places like Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel and beyond. But they’re disappearing, and the cause is often hidden in plain sight: p
