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Gopher Tortoise Recipient Sites

Recipient Sites

The gopher tortoise has been deemed “warranted but precluded” for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act, and is listed as a Threatened Species in the state of Florida. In 2007, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) implemented a rule eliminating the “take” of gopher tortoises. Gopher tortoises in the path of development must now be relocated to a permitted recipient site.

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Recipient sites prevent the loss of tortoises on development sites, help retain the local or regional tortoise resource, and aid to habitat preservation.

 

Sites Currently Available:

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  • Fort Atkinson Ranch Long Term Gopher Tortoise Recipient Site

    • ​Lafayette County, FL

    • 1,326 Spaces Permitted

Image by Dawn McDonald

​By adhering to these guidelines and processes, developers and recipient site owners can contribute to the conservation of the gopher tortoise while complying with state regulations.

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