Gopher Tortoise Relocation

ETE recently assisted a single family homeowner on Cocohatchee Street with gopher tortoise permitting.  Two gopher tortoise burrows were identified on the property.  ETE helped the owner acquire a relocation permit from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).  ETE has two FWC approved gopher tortoise agents on staff who successfully excavated both burrows on the property and relocated 1 adult and 1 juvenile gopher tortoise to a long term protected gopher tortoise recipient site.  The tortoises will now be part of a larger, protected population where the habitat is specifically managed for gopher tortoises.

Gopher tortoises are an important keystone species in Florida – their burrows provide shelter to over 350 other species. They are classified as a threatened species and are protected under Florida law. If you have gopher tortoises on your property and are looking to develop, you will need to obtain a permit before you begin clearing. Give us a call and one of our gopher tortoise agents can help navigate you through this process.