Relocation or Conservation for Marco’s Gopher Tortoises

I have roughly 20 gopher tortoise burrows in my yard, and most of them are considered “possibly occupied,” according to Brittany Piersma, biologist for Audubon of the Western Everglades. It means that the burrow is open and usable. It doesn’t mean that the tortoise is currently living in it but that it is an accessible habitat.

But not for long! Just in the last year, six gopher friendly vacant lots are in various stages of development in my neighborhood. When a developer decides to build, it is the responsibility of the owner and developer to first hire an authorized gopher tortoise agent to perform an initial gopher tortoise survey to prove that there are or aren’t gopher tortoises.

Once the survey is complete, and if there are gopher tortoises present, then the agent will recommend relocating them to a “licensed recipient site.” According to FWC, recipient sites are private or publicly owned lands of 25 acres or more and permitted to accept gopher tortoises needing relocation out of harm’s way from development.

Here is the rub – not just in Marco, but state-wide - increased development is causing a decrease in gopher tortoise habitat which is triggering a scarcity of viable licensed recipient sites for gopher tortoise relocation.

The cost for relocating the gopher tortoises is “market driven” – set by owners of recipient sites. Some places that once charged $1,000 per gopher tortoise are now charging developers upwards to $6,000 per tortoise – which means moving my potential 20 tortoises would now cost $120,000.

And I can’t imagine the gopher tortoises from my backyard surviving the frigid winter weather of North or Central Florida. Would preserving the places in Marco where our gopher tortoises have lived with the Calusa Indians be better than relocating them? Is relocation the same as conservation?  

According to FWC, “it is illegal to harm, kill, harass, feed or disrupt the behavior of a gopher tortoise. Removing gopher tortoises from their habitat without a permit could result in a third-degree felony charge, which includes potential fines of up to $5,000.”

Update on Gopher Tortoise Survey in Marco Island

Estimated gopher tortoises on Marco: 1294

Piersma is continuing her survey in Key Marco.

Car strikes since November, 2021: 37 (very few alive and able to be rehabbed)

According to Piersma, the biggest threat to gopher tortoises on Marco are roadway collisions; decrease of habitat and illegal picking up and dropping off tortoises in locations far away from their territory. Misplaced tortoises end up roaming trying to find their way home and running into roadways and predators while trying to find food.

Gopher Tortoise Mailbox Signs:  If you are interested in a Gopher Tortoise Mailbox sign, please email owlwatchmarco@gmail.com.