Burrowing Owl Captive Breeding

The BC Wildlife Park is an active member of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC. Our goal is to achieve population increase, habitat improvement and public education ultimately leading to self supporting Burrowing owl populations in BC's grasslands. The program is a partnership that includes BC Wildlife Park staff, the Ministry of Environment (MOE), volunteers and landowners in the Kamloops Region.

Burrowing owls had almost been extirpated from British Columbia grasslands prior to 1980. The BC Wildlife Park's participation in the BC Burrowing Owl Recovery Program commenced in 1990 with the construction of the Burrowing Owl Captive Breeding Facility. Owls raised in our facility were released when they were about a year old. Release sites throughout the Thompson Okanagan region were carefully selected. About 100 young owls were released each year.

In 2002, a new Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre was constructed at the British Columbia Wildlife Park. The new facility is capable of producing over 100 juvenile owls for release each year. The design of the Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre was developed by staff at the British Columbia Wildlife Park. The facility and program is so successful that it has been copied by other facilities in North America.

In 2004, the BC Wildlife Park received an award of excellence from CAZA (Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums) for our captive breeding program. Today, according to the National Burrowing Owl Team, the British Columbia Wildlife Park is a leader in captive breeding of Burrowing Owls for release and in fact, is the most successful breeder of Burrowing Owls in North America.

Since 1991, the British Columbia Wildlife Park has released well over 500 owls. The 2006 spring release saw 115 owls released with 65 from the Park and 50 from the Port Kells breeding facility in Langley. This year the owl production at the Park hit an all time high with 84 fledglings produced with 81 ready for the 2007 release.

Our Education Department undertakes extension interpretive programs and guided field trips involving schools and other community groups to promote awareness of the Burrowing Owl. Our Burrowing Owl ambassador, is very well know in the community, and promotes the fundamental message that we can all do something to preserve and protect endangered grassland species.