Energy Northwest’s Environmental Services and Environmental & Regulatory Programs teams completed annual maintenance of the artificial burrowing owl habitats near Columbia Generating Station on Feb. 26. The teams inspected and cleaned each burrow to prepare for the return of migratory owls as spring nesting season approaches.
Western burrowing owls are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Washington and are currently under evaluation as a candidate for the state endangered species list. Sightings remain rare outside of Benton, Franklin, Grant and western Adams counties.
Unlike most owl species, Western burrowing owls rely on abandoned burrows created by ground‑dwelling mammals such as ground squirrels, prairie dogs, foxes, badgers and coyotes. As habitat for these mammals decline, the owls face reduced access to natural nesting sites. The shrub‑steppe and open grasslands of southeastern Washington continue to offer ideal conditions for foraging and nesting.
Energy Northwest partnered with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 2012 to install nine artificial burrow sets along Pumphouse Road at Columbia Generating Station, and employees have maintained them since 2016. Each set includes two chambers — one for nesting and one for food storage — along with a low perch that allows owls to watch for predators. The structures are built using half of a 55‑gallon drum and a 5‑gallon bucket as a maintenance hatch, connected by a 6‑inch entrance tube and buried to resemble a natural animal burrow.
This year’s maintenance reflects Energy Northwest’s continued commitment to wildlife stewardship and the protection of sensitive species across the region.