Permit Conditions

Up to five gopher tortoises may be live-captured by non-harmful methods (such as by excavation, bucket-trapping, or by hand), relocated and released on-site within the legal boundaries of this property to preclude their harm due to imminent construction or land clearing activities. If excavation is used, burrows are to be excavated in incremental stages to minimize the potential of harming the tortoises involved. If bucket-trapping is used, traps must be checked at least once per day and remain in place for at least 28 consecutive days or until a tortoise is captured, whichever occurs first. Release of tortoises must be accomplished in such a way as to preclude tortoises returning to their burrows. Temporary fencing may be used to exclude relocated tortoises from construction sites, but if such fencing necessitates confining tortoises, shade must be available therein, the confinement is to comply with the applicable guidelines (see # 7 below), and confinement is not to exceed 10 days. Any mortality associated with the permitted work must be reported to this office within five days.

Any gopher tortoise burrow commensals (other animal species which share the burrows) encountered in the capture operation may likewise by live-captured, relocated, and released. However, no more than 10 each of Florida mice (Podomys floridanus) and gopher frogs (Rana capito) may be relocated. Should additional specimens of those species or other species listed as endangered, threatened or of special concern, be encountered, the capture operation is to be suspended immediately and the appropriate regional office contacted. Florida Fish and Wildlife regional offices may be contacted for information concerning the identification of burrow commensals.

Tortoises may be captured and relocated only on the first day of a three-day period during which the low temperature during the entire three-day period is forecasted by the U.S. National Weather Service to be above 50° F. The Permittee shall cover all traps on days forecasted to be below 50° F. This three-day window of milder temperatures is necessary to allow the relocated tortoises to settle into the receiving area on the site.

This permit, with the original signature of the Permittee, must be clearly posted on-site at all times from before permitted activities begin until such activities are completed. This permit shall be effective only after issuance of all legally required local, state and federal permits for construction and land clearing. Originals or copies of all such legally required permits shall be available for inspection on the property during permitted activities.

This permit does not authorize access to any public or private properties. Any required access permission must be secured from the appropriate land owners prior to undertaking any work on such properties.

This permit is subject to revocation at any time pursuant to Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. It is nontransferable. Other qualified personnel may assist in permitted work in the absence of the Permittee's direct supervision only with physical possession of a letter from Permittee authorizing such assistance.

All activities under this Permit must comply with all applicable provisions of the Gopher Tortoise Guidelines,which may be found at: http://myfwc.com/permits/Protected-Wildlife/policy/tortoise_relocation_guidelines.pdf. Copies of the Guidelines may also be obtained from the regional biologist.