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With federal, state, and local environmental regulations constantly changing, finding a Qualified, Licensed, Insured and Experienced tortoise conservation consultant becomes essential to the development of sites that are affected by the presence of gopher tortoises. Gopher Tortoise Services places strong emphasis on both our client's needs and the conservation needs of the affected tortoises, while complying with federal, state and local wildlife regulations.

The services we offer include:

 
Site Evaluations ~ Pre-Purchase & Pre-Construction

Early identification of protected species is key to option strategy and planning.

accomplished through aerial photography and ground-level surveys

Tortoise Surveys ~ Burrow Identification & Counting,  Mapping & Census Reports

Critical to properly addressing affected sites and existing populations in a cost effective timely manor.

accomplished through ground-level surveys

Permitting ~ On-Site and Off-Site

City, County, State and Federal agencies may require up-to 90 lead-time

requires aerial photography,  ground-level surveys & clerical

Habitat ~ Evaluation, Development, Design, Restoration

Calculating the habitat value of a site under present conditions and with various development and mitigation scenarios, insures proper habitat and carrying capacity requirements are met, this is vital to species survival

requires aerial photography,  ground-level surveys, technical & clerical

Relocations ~  On-Site and Off-Site, with capture by Excavation and Trapping

Relocating is a cost effective method of addressing the presence of tortoises on development sites, done properly it meets and contributes to the long-term survival needs of the species

requires aerial photography,  ground-level surveys, technical, clerical, physical & mechanical

 

Summery

 
Site evaluations are typically conducted for clients to determine the presence of Threatened or endangered plant or wildlife species. The gopher tortoise is listed as a Threatened Species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) and may be found within the upland communities of a project site. Given the presence of the gopher tortoise, several commensal species have a moderate potential for occurring on the project site including eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais), Florida mouse (Podomys floridanus), Florida pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus), and gopher frog (Rana areolata). If these commensals are found on-site, it may be required that these species are relocated as well.
The FFWCC policy requires landowners to minimize impacts to gopher tortoises by Avoidance or Relocating affected gopher tortoises.

Typically on-site relocation of the gopher tortoise population is preferred. To accomplish this task a census must be conducted of the donor and recipient sites and the results of the census presented to the FFWCC along with a request for the relocation permit.

Once this permit is obtained, the captures are conducted in one of two main ways. The more efficient option is to capture gopher tortoises for relocation is by incrementally excavating the burrows using a backhoe & hand shovel.

Another way to capture gopher tortoises for relocation is by the use of bucket traps placed at the entrances of burrows.

Captured tortoises are weighed, sexed, measured and permanently marked this data is compiled into a final report to the FFWCC.

Captured tortoises are then released to the newly developed or pre-existing on-site donor habitat, out of harms way and where sufficient measures are in place to restrict tortoises from returning to an area that may pose danger to them.


Please call us at 727-861-5013 for additional information on our services and fees.