Burrowing Owl NPS/Patrick Myers

Some of the cutest creatures in the park are small owls such as the northern pygmy owl, flammulated owl, saw-whet owl, and pictured here, the burrowing owl.

These small owl species reach only 5-9 inches (12-22cm) in height, and with their camouflage coloration, are not often seen by visitors.

Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are primarily active in daytime. As the only owl species in the world that nests in the ground, they naturally thrive in prairies, including the grasslands surrounding Great Sand Dunes.

Mothers spend much of their time in burrows tending to their young, while fathers catch insects and other small creatures to bring back to their families. To protect their young, a community of burrowing owls has a sentry on duty that calls an alert if a large animal or person approaches. If that doesn't work, they mimic the sound of a rattlesnake to scare them away!

To capture these photos and not disturb the owls, a camouflage blind was set up near the colony, and a long telephoto lens was used. A photo of two owls on a burrow, taken the same day, is also posted here.

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