The burrowing owl’s smaller than average size is not the only characteristic that sets it apart from other owl breeds. While most owls are nocturnal (active at night), burrowing owls are diurnal (active during both day and night). Also unlike most owls that live in trees, the burrowing owl makes its home on the ground, nesting in burrows abandoned by squirrels, badgers and chipmunks. Similar to most owls, they prefer to eat small mammals and insects. A clever species, burrowing owls will collect mammal feces and scatter it around their burrow to attract dung beetles, which they will capture and eat. As opportunistic hunters, burrowing owls will store excess food in their burrows.