Staff Highlight – Gopher Tortoise Agent- Andrew McAuley

Andrew McAuley is an ETE ecologist that does a wide variety of fieldwork for Earth Tech Environmental, ranging from protected species surveys, water sampling, Phase I’s, and wetland determinations. Now he can officially add another to the list.

Andrew has recently become a FWC Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent. This allows them to survey, trap, mark, transport, and relocate gopher tortoises. The use of an authorized agent is required for all off-site relocation projects, regardless of capture method, on-site relocation projects that involve the relocation of more than 10 burrows, and on-site relocation projects that involve any method of capture other than bucket trapping, live trapping, or hand shovel excavation.

Gopher tortoises are an important keystone species in Florida – their burrows provide shelter to over 350 other animal 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.