OPEN SPACE PROTECTION

City of Prescott voters will vote on Proposition 484, “Open Space Charter Amendment” in the August 5^, 2025 Primary Election. This proposition will not be on the General Election Ballot in November. If approved, Prop 484 will require the City to hold in perpetuity certain Open Space and Recreation Space properties, unless an exception is approved by a majority of voters. Watson Lake and Willow Lake, two of Prescott Audubon’s Important Bird Areas, are included.

Mail in ballots and in-person Early Voting will begin on July 9^th. For more information about Proposition 484 and voting in this election, check out these websites:

https://www.savethedells.org – Proposition 484

https://participateprescott.com - Prop 484 Information Page

If you are a Prescott resident, Voice your opinion, VOTE.   Submitted by Sharon Andersen

In June, volunteers constructed the artificial burrows. Prescott National Forest put up the release tents, enduring high winds and much dust, and then volunteers secured chicken wire around the base of the tents to deter coyotes and other predators. Wild at Heart project coordinator Greg Clark trained the feeder volunteers and gave them a supply of frozen mice, and two owls were placed in each of the twelve tents. Volunteers are providing mice and fresh water to the owls daily for five weeks. After four weeks, the tents will be removed; this period in the tents promotes site fidelity. If the owls lay eggs, feeding will continue until the youngsters fledge.

Future volunteer opportunities include taking down the tents and after the owls are no longer being fed, rehab work on the disturbed areas (the driving path and around the burrows). Please contact Greg Clark at greg@BTLLCAZ.com if you’re interested in helping and are not already on our list of volunteers.

The response to our call for volunteers for this project has been truly remarkable. Many thanks to Greg Clark and others at Wild at Heart, Prescott National Forest, Audubon Southwest and all of our amazing volunteers!  

Editor's Note: An article about Wild at Heart and its Burrowing Owl project is in the March 2025 issue of National Geographic. A copy of the magazine can be found in the Prescott Valley Library.