Although the owls are federally protected, FAU has received permission from the FWC to 'non-lethally harass' the birds to encourage them to leave their burrows.
"There was one right there, but now it's filled with sand," one student pointed out while walking the site.
"It's important for us to think in a futuristic way when it comes to development," Quenee said. "We have to work with the land that's in Florida, not against it. If we don't, we're going to feel the repercussions years from now."
Although the owls are federally protected, FAU has received permission from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to "non-lethally harass" the birds to encourage them to leave their burrows. That includes using loud sounds or filling the entrances with sand.
Quenee called the decision ironic.
"The craziest part is their mascot is a burrowing owl," he said.
Instead of removing them, Quenee believes
the university could use the land as a living laboratory—inviting science departments, local schools, and visitors to learn about owl conservation.