Volunteers give owls new digs

KENNEWICK – Burrowing owls are getting more places to live in Eastern Washington.

Volunteers and biologists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been installing artificial burrows to encourage the small owls to nest. The burrows are made of plastic barrels, pipe and a bucket. They have been successful at Oregon’s Umatilla Chemical Depot, so 50 more have been installed this spring in the Mid-Columbia area and 24 on the Hanford Reach National Wildlife Refuge.