WGI was hired when gopher tortoises were discovered during clearing for a new town center. After researching past land uses and pre-clearing habitats, WGI coordinated with FWC to successfully avoid the need for a Disturbed Site permit and enforcement penalties. This created substantial cost savings for the client. WGI, with our own FWC Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agents, obtained the appropriate permit and relocated the tortoises. Construction of the new town center proceeded in phases over approximately two years. This phasing required multiple gopher tortoise surveys, permit extensions, and two separate gopher tortoise relocation events. Most tortoises were excavated with a backhoe, but one burrow was under buried utility lines and required trapping. Trapping requires 28 consecutive days of monitoring, so our biologists were onsite even on Thanksgiving Day – we do what it takes!

Project Highlights:

• “Thanks for being proactive” -Client’s Project Manager