Residents living near an empty lot along Southwest 25th Place in Cape Coral, Fla., have noticed that fake cats have been mysteriously placed in the lot, which is a known burrowing owl nest. Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife volunteers discovered a similar scene at a nearby lot near the corner of Southwest 20th Avenue and Southwest 30th Street, but no nests were identified on the property. The volunteers believe that someone has been placing the fake cats in the lots to prevent more burrowing owls from moving onto the properties before they can be developed. Burrowing owls are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and they are classified as threatened by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, making their burrows illegal to disturb without special permits.
