Determining if you need a permit for 10 or fewer burrowsDo I have gopher tortoises on my property?
To determine if you have gopher tortoises on your property, you must conduct a tortoise survey or hire an Authorized Agent to conduct a survey for you. Authorized Agents have experience in tortoise surveying, trapping, and relocation techniques and are permitted by the FWC.
Gopher tortoise surveys are conducted by searching for gopher tortoise burrows (burrow entrances) by walking along transects. Transects are simply straight, parallel lines, spaced no more than 33 feet apart (much closer in densely vegetated areas). These transects must cover all areas inside or within 25 feet of planned development activities (Figure 1). Small properties with low-growing vegetation can be surveyed quickly and easily (for example, most residential lots). Larger properties with thick vegetation (obscuring burrows) can be more difficult, taking days to complete (an Authorized Agent is recommended).
Figure 1. Example transects (arrows denote direction traveled).
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