 Florida Atlantic University 's main campus in Boca Raton was established on the remnants of a World War II American Army airbase in 1964 . Spanning 850 acres ( 3 @.@ 5 km ² ) , the site is located between the cities of Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale . The campus was designated a burrowing owl sanctuary in 1971 by the Audubon Society . The owls find the campus appealing because there are few predators , due to the university 's proximity to the Boca Raton Airport , and because the campus was originally cleared of vegetation when operating as an airbase during World War II . " The feisty bird , traditionally associated with wisdom and determination , serves as the university 's mascot . " 
 Florida Atlantic University <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>main campus in Boca Raton was established on the remnants of a World War II American Army airbase in 1964 . Spanning 850 acres ( 3 @.@ 5 km ² ) , the site is located between the cities of Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale . The campus was designated a burrowing owl sanctuary in 1971 by the Audubon Society . The owls find the campus appealing because <a href='dey_it' title='2'><mark>there</mark></a> are few predators , due to the university <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>proximity to the Boca Raton Airport , and because the campus was originally cleared of vegetation when operating as an airbase during World War II . " The feisty bird , traditionally associated with wisdom and determination , <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>serves</mark></a> as the university <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>mascot . " 
Florida Atlantic University  main campus in Boca Raton was established on the remnants of a World War II American Army airbase in 1964 . Spanning 850 acres ( 3 @.@ 5 km ² ) , da site is located between tdacities of Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale . The campus was designated a burrowing owl sanctuary in 1971 by thdaudubon Society . Thedals find the dapus appealing cause it is few predators , due to the university  proximity to the Bda Raton Airport , and bebche campus was originally cleared of vegetation when operating as an airbase during World War II . " The feisty bird , traditionally associated with wisdom and determination , serve as the undarsity  mascot . "