Community Concerned After Family Of Owls Goes Missing

DAVIS (CBS13) – A family of federally-protected owls has disappeared from its home in Davis.

The burrowing owl family was living in a vacant lot on Mace Boulevard for two years. Locals report not seeing the owls for weeks now, and they're now wondering if someone is to blame for their disappearance.

From above ground, a hole in a barren lot doesn't look like much. But deep down, way down, it's home.

"[The owls are] usually up for two hours talking and hooting and stuff," said Eric Arevalo, who lives near the lot.

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Burrowing owls live underground, and some didn't even know they exist.

"No, I didn't know there were owls in the field," said Lauren Koch, who also lives near the lot.

But those familiar with the owls say something is wrong.

For two years, a breeding pair of burrowing owls nested in the Davis lot. Their home looks like an ordinary cinder block. But if you take a closer look, it's actually a makeshift home for the burrowing owls put here by the property owner. But lately, the residents say they haven't seen any owls here or anywhere else on the property.

Aubrey Whitish used to see them every morning on her bike ride to work.

"There was a family of three or four that I saw popping out of a hole in the corner," Whitish said.

Then the beloved and federally protected owls disappeared.

"Probably about two months ago." Whitish said.

Adding to the community concern, the Davis Enterprise reported witnesses saw rocks covering the holes and BB gun pellets nearby.

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"Kids on bikes play on the dirt over there," Arevalo said.

But Whitish thinks the birds were pushed out by something more their size.

"Squirrels. Big ground squirrels. I've seen them popping out of the same burrow," Whitish said.

Did they simply move away?  Or is their disappearance the work of wrongdoing? Davis police say the investigation into the burrowing owls' disappearance is being handled by the city's wildlife specialist.