Indiana’s barn owls are fighting for survival—and they’re finally making a comeback. Once common across our meadows and farms, these ghostly, heart-faced owls have vanished from much of our state due to habitat loss and changing farm structures. But with help from conservationists and public support, they’re returning. Now it’s time for Indiana’s leaders to make sure this recovery doesn’t stall.

Since being listed as endangered in 1984, barn owls have benefited from a successful state program run by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which installs and monitors nest boxes in rural barns. Thanks to these efforts, active nests nearly doubled between 2017 and 2022. But these gains are fragile—and they depend on reliable funding.

That’s where the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund comes in. This fund supports the recovery of more than 750 species that aren’t hunted or fished—including barn owls. But right now, it relies heavily on seasonal donations and tax checkoffs. That’s not enough to guarantee long-term success.

We’re calling on the Indiana General Assembly to allocate permanent funding for the Nongame Wildlife Fund so programs like barn owl recovery can expand and thrive. A secure funding stream means more nest boxes in the right places, better habitat monitoring, and stronger regional cooperation with neighboring states. It also shows federal partners that Indiana is serious about protecting its biodiversity.

Farmers, birders, and families alike value these birds, which help control rodent populations and enrich our ecosystems. Let’s make sure future generations get to see barn owls gliding over southern Indiana’s fields.

Photo: Steve Licata