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DescriptionWildlife Habitat Evaluation, Permitting, and Field Services for relocation of Gopher Tortoises from a 1,320 acre tract located in Hillsborough County to an FDEP approved preservation site. A total of 13 gopher tortoises were relocated from Turkey Creek Preserve to a 770-acre state managed parcel within the Department of Environmental Protection Integrated Habitat Network at the Homeland office. Tortoises were retrieved at 13 of 21 burrows that were monitored during this event, resulting in a conversion factor of 0.619 for these low quality nonmandatory reclamation lands. FEDINC relocated 1 female and 12 male tortoises; a few burrows were left intact where no construction impacts will occur. ClientTurkey Creek Preserve
StatusComplete
SIMILAR PROJECT: FEDINC was contracted by U.S. Agri-Chemicals Corp. (USAC) to provide gopher tortoise permitting services for two sand tailings areas totaling 96 acres to be used as borrow material for treatment pond reclamation during mine closure operations. Our Authorized Tortoise Agent, Angela Baker, and assistant field tech, Randy Koblentz performed a 100% survey and located 36 burrows. A relocation permit application was submitted, with relocation process written to the new specifications of the draft FWC regulations. Ms. Baker coordinated the set-up of a "soft-release" site at the Integrated Habitat Network (IHN) conservation land located FDEP Homeland. Eighteen tortoises were excavated from the USAC project areas and released into the "soft-release" site at FDEP Homeland and all tortoises have acclimated to the site. |