As Gopher Tortoise Day (April 10) approaches, actions by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) signal significant need for the gopher tortoise relocation services offered by GAI’s Environmental professionals.
“Due to recent regulatory developments at the FWC, gopher tortoise relocation capacity at several FWC-approved recipient sites has been significantly reduced,” said GAI Environmental Manager DJ Silverberg, PWS, GTA. That means that a range of municipal, industrial, development, and transportation clients in Florida need more robust gopher tortoise relocation support to fulfill regulatory and permitting requirements and enable necessary project work to proceed on schedule.
Gopher tortoises are found throughout the southeastern U.S., ranging from eastern Louisiana to southeastern South Carolina. The gopher tortoise is classified as a “threatened” species in Florida by the FWC, and is classified as “threatened” in Louisiana, Mississippi, and southwestern Alabama by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These classifications mandate specific actions that must be performed to protect and potentially relocate gopher tortoise populations impacted by project work.
“GAI is currently working with clients in Florida and throughout the South on gopher tortoise relocation issues,” said Silverberg. “We are working with recipient sites and recipient site agents to identify and evaluate the location and availability of current site inventory, and we are working with the FWC and other consultants to develop new recipient sites and long-range forecasting of current and future recipient site capacity.”
Contact GAI Environmental Manager DJ Silverberg, PWS, GTA, 321.319.3077, for more information about gopher tortoise relocation and other GAI services that help conserve wildlife while being sensitive to project need. Message GAI online and start the conversation about how our multidiscipline professionals can meet your unique project needs.
DJ Silverberg, PWS, GTA is a Professional Wetland Scientist who has conducted ecological consulting studies since 1987. He performs preliminary land use assessments, wetland delineations, and listed species evaluations for sites throughout Florida, as well as wetland jurisdictional delineations for local, state, and federal regulatory programs.
