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Hoot busted in burrowing owl case
June 14, 2007
Contacts: Dani Moschella (772) 215-9459
Officer Jorge Pino (561) 723-1417
When Patricia Hoot-McLeod had a construction
worker destroy an active Florida burrowing owl nest to make way
for a new housing development in Cooper City, she probably
didn’t realize that an astute neighbor was watching.
The man had noticed the nest and a pint-sized
Florida burrowing owl standing at its entrance on May 4. Three
days later, the nest was gone. He reported the violation to the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Hoot-McLeod was working as a consultant for PH
Consulting Inc., an environmental company hired by the developer
of the Darlington Park sub-division to provide guidance on the
environmental issues dealing with the nest. She maintained a log
from April 25 to May 8 documenting the dates she observed owls
at the nest. The last entry stated that after 10 hours of rain
on May 6, the site was opened to check for owls. Then she had a
worker collapse the nest.
Although the owls’ breeding season normally
ranges from Feb. 15 through July 10, state and federal permits
are required year-round before an active or inactive nest can be
removed or destroyed. Hoot-McLeod did not have such a permit to
destroy the nest.
“She had gotten a permit in the past, so she
knew it was required by law. The FWC will not stand for such a
blatant abuse of a protected species, and I commend the person
who reported it,” said FWC Major Brett Norton.
Hoot-McLeod, 48, of Fort Lauderdale, was charged
with one count of destroying a burrowing owl nest, a
second-degree misdemeanor.
The Florida burrowing owl, a small bird that
digs its burrows in open, treeless areas, is classified as a
species of special concern by the FWC. This means burrows, owls
and their eggs are protected from harassment and/or disturbance
by state law. Burrowing owls are protected by the federal
Migratory Bird Treaty Act as well.
The owls use burrows year-round for roosting
during the winter and for raising young during the breeding
season. Burrows extend 4 to 8 feet underground.
The public can report wildlife law violations to
the FWC’s Wildlife
Alert Hotline at (888) 404-FWCC.
For more information about burrowing owls, visit
MyFWC.com/viewing/species/burrowingowl.html. |
