This small, long-legged owl nests underground!

Unlike other owls, the Burrowing Owl nests in underground burrows which, depending on the part of the country, the owls either excavate themselves, or they use abandoned prairie dog burrows. Often found in loose colonies, Burrowing Owls will defend their nest burrows from other Burrowing Owls, but not their foraging areas.

A common myth suggests that Burrowing Owls share their burrows with rattlesnakes. Not true! But badgers can be significant predators of Burrowing Owl nests where the two species occur together.