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Gopher Tortoise News and Updates

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FWC Wildlife News  +

Reminder: Balloon releases take a toll on wildlife Deadline extended for captive wildlife rule survey Painted Bunting Observer Team needs help from volunteers Make way for manatees heading for warmer water "Backyard Safari," by Jessica Basham "The Wildlife Forecast," by Patricia Behnke Frequently Asked Questions What regulations apply to turtles? What does a gopher tortoise or its burrow look like? Collecting snakes, turtles and other reptiles. How can I keep my dog from harming gopher tortoises? How can I help gopher tortoises? Why issue "incidental take" permits for gopher tortoises? What are the hunting regulations, bag limits and seasons? Can I remove gopher tortoises?

Abstracts are now being accepted for the 31st Annual Gopher Tortoise Meeting (October 2-3, 2009 Gainesville, Florida)

Conservation of gopher tortoises and their habitat takes a multipronged approach - including research, land management, and education. When designed effectively, education and outreach programs can generate engagement in and support for conservation efforts by the public and key decision-makers.

The conference will include a special session on how to develop effective gopher tortoise education programs, create marketing materials, and implement proven strategies for public outreach. In addition to general sessions on gopher tortoise conservation, the conference will host in-depth training programs on a wide range of natural resources for educators and will include field trips to local natural areas.

Researchers, consultants, land managers, educators, policymakers, and students are invited to present and attend. 

Recipient site certification benefits both the gopher tortoise and landowners

Private landowners can play a key role in helping conserve and restore gopher tortoise habitat and several elements of the plan are of direct interest to private landowners. One exciting element is the opportunity for landowners to have their land certified as a gopher tortoise recipient site. Recipient sites are where tortoises displaced by development will be relocated under a new permitting system created under the management plan.  Landowners that have their properties certified as recipient sites may receive financial compensation from the donor site owner (such as a developer).

The objective of the recipient site program is to provide the highest level of long-term security for the gopher tortoise and its habitat on certified recipient sites. Recipient sites will be evaluated based on tortoise habitat attributes, such as those containing well drained soils, open or sparse tree canopy, or a healthy groundcover of herbaceous plants.

Recipient sites will require active management to ensure that habitat continues to remain suitable for the gopher tortoise. To assist with this management, the FWC coordinates internally with its landowner assistance programs to enhance the application of these programs on appropriate privately owned uplands for gopher tortoise conservation.

Technical and financial assistance is available for several habitat management activities (e.g., prescribed burning, vegetation management). If you are interested in applying to have your land certified as a gopher tortoise recipient site, or are interested in learning more about the gopher tortoise management plan, please contact the gopher tortoise conservation biologist in your region. 
The new permitting guidelines that include the full description on gopher tortoise recipient sites is available for download at: http://www.myfwc.com/GopherTortoise/. Applications for recipient site permits are currently being accepted.