Upper Nicola Band releases endangered burrowing owls

The Band said in a release that its reintroduction site is one of the most productive burrowing owl breeding sites in the province.

“The captive-raised owls have produced a total of 125 wild-born fledglings, and both captive-born and wild-born owls return to the site every year to breed and raise their young,” said Upper Nicola Band officials.

“This success reflects the commitment and sustained effort by Upper Nicola Knowledge Keepers and wildlife experts. They conserve grassland habitat on the Douglas Lake reserve for the owls, build breeding sites, and care for the owls during the breeding season.”

The small, brown and white owls are most active during the day and spend most of their time on or near the ground, unlike most other owl species. They also serve as both a predator and prey species to other grassland animals.

They typically nest in abandoned underground burrows left by other animals such badgers or marmots. The Upper Nicola site consists of artificial burrows made by community members at locations marked by biologists and the band’s resource technicians and cultural advisors.

“The program has exceeded all our expectations,” says Upper Nicola member and senior resource technician, Loretta Holmes.

“The owls, which we call sq̓əq̓axʷ, have responded better than we dared to hope ten years ago. And community interest and involvement has been strong since the start.”

Band officials said the owls are an important part of the Syilx people’s culture, representing guardian spirits for hunters and warriors, and guides to other worlds.

“For our people, the cultural, spiritual and environmental importance of sq̓əq̓axʷ are one. Our culture is rooted in co-existence with the world around us,” said Upper Nicola Chief Dan Manuel.

“We have a responsibility to care for the land and the beings on it. We must help rebuild what has been lost, and it will continue to support us.”

While burrowing owls are considered endangered in B.C., they have also been extirpated from other parts of their native grassland habitats across western Canada.

The Band said this decline is due to habitat loss and environmental pressures.

The Burrowing Owl Recovery Program contributes to Canada’s recovery goals for the species and is part of the Band’s Species-at-Risk program.

This larger program aims to conserve several other endangered species that call the region home, such as Lewis’s Woodpecker, great basin spadefoot toad, and American badger.

“The program includes education and outreach that builds community capacity, strengthens Syilx knowledge of culturally and ecologically important wildlife among both Nation members and the regional community, and encourages local, hands-on conservation across the region,” said the Upper Nicola Band.

The Band partners with the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC to conduct this program.

“The Upper Nicola Band is honoured to be an important part of establishing a self-perpetuating population of sq̓əq̓axʷ on our traditional lands and reversing the decline of Burrowing Owls in BC and Canada,” said Chief Manuel.

by Elora McCormack

Upper Nicola Band releases endangered burrowing owls

Our Community