| 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.
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The services we offer include: |
| Site Evaluations ~ Pre-Purchase & Pre-Construction |
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Early identification of protected species is key to option strategy and planning. accomplished through aerial photography and ground-level surveys |
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| Tortoise Surveys ~ Burrow Identification & Counting, Mapping & Census Reports |
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Critical to properly addressing affected sites and existing populations in a cost effective timely manor. accomplished through ground-level surveys |
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| Permitting ~ On-Site and Off-Site |
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City, County, State and Federal agencies may require up-to 90 lead-time requires aerial photography, ground-level surveys & clerical |
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| Habitat ~ Evaluation, Development, Design, Restoration |
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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 |
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| Relocations ~ On-Site and Off-Site, with capture by Excavation and Trapping |
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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 |
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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. Captured tortoises are weighed, sexed, measured and permanently marked this data is compiled into a final report to the
FFWCC. |
Please call us at 727-861-5013 for additional
information on our services and fees.