A Pompano Beach, Florida developer that is working on the renovation of the Isle Casino had a choice in what to do with some burrowing owls on the property. They could pay to relocate the birds or pay a larger fee and seal off their habitats.
They choose the latter option, and it has conservationists in a tizzy. They’ve since pleaded with the developer to relocate the five owls that were sighted on the former harness racetrack.
The plans call for construction on the track to improve drainage on the property. Future work includes adding 15,000 square feet to the casino, a parking garage, 950 hotel rooms, 4,100 multi-family homes, 300,000 square feet of commercial space, 1.5 million square feet of industrial space and 1.3 million square feet of office space.
The casino, owned by Harrah’s and soon to be named Harrah’s instead of Isle Casino, paid the $9,500 mitigation fee, which goes to the Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s imperiled species fund.
But Kelly Heffernan, a member of Project Perch, an organization dedicated to preserving owl environments, said she had tried to work with the casino developer to move the owls but got no response.
Heffernan told the New Pelican newspaper that she was upset that the developer said there was not a location on the property that would be suitable for the owls.
“In 223 acres of green space, there is no way to accommodate the owls?” Heffernan said.
Heffernan, along with another longtime resident, Nancy Schaut, appealed to city officials to try and save the owls. They said they have tried to work with Caesars, but have had to go to the city instead.
Schaut requested the city commission intervene but said the only response she received was from Mayor Rex Hardin, who said he was forwarding their concerns to a city spokesperson.
All may not be lost for the owls, however. The state’s avian conservation coordinator Adrienne Fitzwilliams said a 90-day review process filed by the developer will be looked at and something may be worked out in that time.
Heffernan said Project Perch can relocate the owls to artificial burrows made out of a PVC pipe and utility box. She said the owls prefer it to burrowing and it is an inexpensive alternative.
Schaut told the newspaper that the developer has not worked with anyone outside the project.
“This developer only wants only to pay and be allowed to do what they please,” Schaut said. “From the very beginning they have been very uncooperative. Requests were made to check on the owls, but those were ignored. They’re allowed to simply, arrogantly and unkindly, dismiss and ignore us.”
