Burrow Buddies Club Show Love for Marco Wildlife

The Burrow Buddies Club of Tommie Barfield Elementary School (TBE) is in its third year, and according to Brittany Piersma, staff biologist for the Audubon of the Western Everglades (AWE), 16 students just finished making their wildlife signs under the guidance of TBE teacher Mrs. Stephanie Parker. Mrs. Parker is also an Owl Watch volunteer. Last year, they brainstormed fun wildlife messages that would be educational for the public. 

According to Brittany Piersma, during their last Burrow Buddies class of the quarter, the students had fun creating signs about owls and gopher tortoises, after which many were installed all over the island. This year’s new group of “mini environmental stewards” are taking action with their colorful signs, hoping to make a difference.

Slow Down in Cars is one message with cut-outs of existing roadway signs such as “Slow Down Burrowing Owls” and “Gopher Tortoise Crossing,” along with hand-drawn hearts. As Marco goes into hyper-season mode, we find residents, visitors, construction crews and landscape services speeding down streets in close proximity to burrows inhabited by both owls and gopher tortoises. 

Vehicular strike is the most common cause of death for burrowing owls and gopher tortoises. From January 2023 to December 10, 2023, AWE recorded 32 vehicular strikes, and most were fatal.

Don’t Give Them Poison is another message with the cutout of a burrowing owl with lots of hand-drawn hearts! Those hand-drawn hearts are powerful messages to show more LOVE to our Wildlife.

According to Piersma, they have sent off tissue samples and worked with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to test 32 burrowing owls in 2022 and 2023 for rat poison. The results came back with an astounding 26 testing positive with ranging levels and types of poisons, five negatives, and one still pending results. 

“There is NO safe poison and any level can cause internal issues,” Piersma wrote. “Any small injuries could lead to an inability to clot. We also are unaware how poison affects their reproduction or the viability of their eggs. Starting in 2024, it is her goal to meet with every local pest control group. Then we will start reaching out to every condo and local business on Marco Island.” 

The unintended consequence of rat poison is it affects not just owls but also other birds of prey such as hawks. Rat poison can travel through the entire food chain and impact large mammals such as bobcats and even your own dog and cats.

Piersma’s message…please do your own part! If you use rat poison in your yard, ask your pest control company for alternatives such as fertility management, deterrents, and exclusions. Please spread the word to your neighbors! If you find a deceased or sick owl, email owlwatchmarco@gmail.com (monitored 24/7).

Don’t Litter – Pick up trash – Save Them is another message. According to Piersma, plastic bags are easily blown into a burrow along with pieces of yarn, strings, and fishing lines. These materials could easily create an entanglement issue for nesting owls and young chicks. 

Tis the Season to Spread Love and Joy to our Wildlife. Look for the signs from the Burrow Buddies of TBE. They are simple, heartwarming and practical. “Out of the mouths of babes,” reminds us of the precious gift of WILDLIFE in Marco - without WILD – life would not be the same!