Gopher_Tortoise_Guidelines.pdf
PDF 57 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Lake Geneva Restoration Project
- Solicitation number
- 25/26-013
- Issued by
- Clay County, Harold CDP, Florida
About this file
This is a regulatory guidelines document issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission establishing rules and protections for gopher tortoises, a threatened species under Chapter 68A-27, Florida Administrative Code, applicable to Clay County's Lake Geneva Restoration Project. The guidelines prohibit any person from taking, hunting, harassing, capturing, possessing, or transporting gopher tortoises, their eggs, or parts thereof, or from molesting, damaging, or destroying gopher tortoise burrows without prior authorization from the Commission. Contractors performing work on the Lake Geneva Restoration Project must comply with these protections and obtain necessary permits before conducting any land clearing or development activities that may impact gopher tortoises. A gopher tortoise burrow is defined as a tunnel with a cross-section that closely approximates the shape of a gopher tortoise. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's regional gopher tortoise biologist provides permitting guidance and oversight to ensure compliance with state law.
Violations of gopher tortoise protections are subject to enforcement through the FWC's Wildlife Alert Reward Program, which operates 24 hours daily at 888-404-FWCC and accepts online reports of suspected wildlife law violations. Individuals providing information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for rewards. Contractors undertaking Phase I of the Lake Geneva Restoration Project must budget for gopher tortoise permitting fees, relocation services if tortoises are present on the 342-acre lakebed, and compliance monitoring to ensure all work activities avoid impacts to this protected species. Permits will be issued based on whether issuance furthers established management plan goals and objectives.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Gopher Tortoise Rules and Regulations
Gopher tortoises are a threatened wildlife species and are protected by state law, Chapter 68A-27, Florida Administrative Code. Gopher tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place, and property owners must obtain permits from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before they can move them. For more information about permitting guidelines or the laws protecting gopher tortoises please contact the gopher tortoise biologist in your region.
Rules and regulations are in place to benefit both the species and the people. We've included rules that relate to the gopher tortoise along with brief descriptions of those rules.
Rule 68A-27.003: The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is hereby declared to be threatened, and shall be afforded the protective provisions specified in this paragraph. No person shall take, attempt to take, pursue, hunt, harass, capture, possess, sell or transport any gopher tortoise or parts thereof or their eggs, or molest, damage, or destroy gopher tortoise burrows, except as authorized by Commission permit or when complying with Commission approved guidelines for specific actions which may impact gopher tortoises and their burrows. A gopher tortoise burrow is a tunnel with a cross-section that closely approximates the shape of a gopher tortoise. Permits will be issued based upon whether issuance would further management plan goals and objectives.
Wildlife Alert Reward program
It is against the law to kill, harass or destroy gopher tortoises, their eggs or burrows. If you suspect a wildlife law violation, report it to the FWC's Wildlife Alert Reward Program at 888-404-FWCC, 24-hours a day or online. You could be eligible for a reward if your information leads to an arrest.
https://myfwc.com/ https://myfwc.com/ https://www.flrules.org/gateway/ChapterHome.asp?Chapter=68A-27 https://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/gopher-tortoise-permits/ https://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/gopher-tortoise-permits/contacts/ https://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/gopher-tortoise-permits/contacts/ https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?title=RULES%20RELATING%20TO%20ENDANGERED%20OR%20THREATENED%20SPECIES&ID=68A-27.003 https://myfwc.com/contact/wildlife-alert/ tel:888-404-3922
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