Burrowing Owl Captive Breeding Program
Since 1991, B.C. Wildlife Park has released well over 500 juvenile Burrowing Owls back into their BC grassland habitat and is an active member of the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of B.C. As of now, B.C. Wildlife Park has the largest Burrowing Owl Breeding Facility in North America.
Prior to 1980, British Columbia's Burrowing Owl population had almost been extirpated from the grassland areas of the Thompson-Okanagan region. To prevent the species from going extinct in the B.C. grasslands, the B.C. Wildlife Park participated in the BC Burrowing Owl Recovery Program in 1990, with the construction of its first breeding facility.
The main goal of the Breeding Program is to achieve a self-supporting Burrowing Owl population in BC's grasslands through population increase, habitat improvement, and public education. To increase the population, about 100 owls are born and raised within the breeding facility. After one year, those same owls would then be released into the grasslands of the Thompson-Okanagan area after staff carefully select a proper release site. In terms, of habitat and education, the Wildlife Park's Education Department undertakes extensive interpretive programs and field trips that involve schools and other community groups to promote local awareness about the Burrowing Owls' plight. In addition, the Park's Burrowing Owl ambassador, is very well known in the local community, and will promote the fundamental message that people of all ages can do something to preserve and protect endangered grassland species. Furthermore, the breeding program is a partnership that includes Wildlife Park staff, volunteers, local landowners, and the BC Ministry of Education, which also helps in delivering its message and objectives.
After twelve years with the program, BC Wildlife Park constructed a new Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre within its grounds in 2002. The new facility is capable of producing over 100 young owls for release each year. The design of the Burrowing Owl Recovery Centre was developed by B.C. Wildlife Park staff and is currently being copied by other North American facilities due to its success as a leader in Burrowing Owl captive breeding for release according to the National Burrowing Owl Team. In addition, B.C. Wildlife Park also received an award of excellence for its captive breeding program from the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2004.
Read more about this topic: British Columbia Wildlife Park, Conservation and Education Projects
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