Gopher Tortoise Relocation and Mitigation
Various Clients

Pandion permits multiple gopher tortoise projects each year for a variety of clients ranging from individual homeowners to large developers. The initial process for each is essentially the same. Pandion conducts an initial survey of the proposed project site and records and classifies the locations of gopher tortoise burrows onsite using wireless handheld Pocket PCs and GPS receivers. In most instances the entire site is inventoried but depending on the size of the property, transects are used to develop an estimate of the number of tortoises onsite. This initial survey is sometimes part of the overall ecological assessment or protected species survey of the site.

Silver Hammock Preserve: Onsite Relocation
Silver Hammock Preserve is a hamlet development in Marion County north of Silver Springs, Florida. Lots were divided into 5-acre parcels with 3 acres of each lot left for open space. Pandion relocated all of the tortoises found within the developable area of each lot to an onsite gopher tortoise conservation area. Pandion worked with the developer and restored three acres as the conservation area recipient site that would hold up to nine tortoises. In addition, Pandion wrote covenant language for the tortoise conservation area that stipulated the long-term management actions to be taken to protect the tortoises. Pandion also designed gopher tortoise education materials targeted at the homeowners in Silver Hammock Preserve. Contact Bill Nettleton for relocation and management services: 352-372-4747 x1822.

Lexington Estates: Offsite Relocation
Pandion obtained an offsite relocation permit to move 85 gopher tortoises from a 60-acre site in Marion County to the Ocala National Forest. Pandion coordinated with US Forest Service biologists to identify areas within the forest where on-going forest management coincided with the management needs of the tortoises. Prior to moving the tortoises from Lexington Estates, 25% of them were captured and tested for the Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) found in North American tortoise populations. All tests were negative for the disease.

All active and inactive tortoise burrows onsite were excavated using a backhoe and a field crew who carefully monitored the excavation and manually removed each tortoise. Tortoises were then marked and released into a sandhill community in the Ocala National Forest. As a part of the agreement with the US Forest Service to take the tortoises, Pandion agreed to radio tracking 20% of the newly released tortoises to assess translocation success. Since then, Pandion has been monitoring the status of the released tortoises biannually. Contact Bill Nettleton for relocation and management services: 352-372-4747 x1822.

Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent Permit Training
This training course helps applicants meet requirements for the Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent Permit. Pandion is an FWC-approved training provider for Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent Permits.We have been relocating gopher tortoises for over 10 years and currently manage over 500 acres of gopher tortoise mitigation lands. Contact Peter Colverson for more information on this training course: 352-372-4747 x3270.

Key Personnel
Christian Newman, MS, MBA
Christine Denny, MS
Crissy Sutter, MS
Bill Nettleton
Peter Colverson, MA

Period of Performance
1997 to current

Location
Central Florida