About half of the 800 remaining pairs of burrowing owls breed in Saskatchewan each year, nesting in abandoned burrows made by badgers and gophers.

Right now is the time of year when young burrowing owls leave their nests and start foraging for themselves.

This means many of them will be hunting along roads at dusk, when road surfaces tend to be warmer and when surrounding grasslands attract rodents and insects. 

Nature Saskatchewan is asking drivers to slow down near known or potential nest sites and keep an eye out for low-flying owls when traveling on roads. 

With the burrowing owl populations still in decline, the survival of each individual owl is critical for the species. 

Anyone who sees a burrowing owl is encouraged to report it to Nature Saskatchewan's Hoot Line at 1-800-667-HOOT (4668) to help with population monitoring.