I can think of some herp societes/volenteers. in Fl that would do it for free. In fact I think its been done before.

Instead of the city PAYING for relocation with questionable outcome, they could adopt out the tortoises (under strict guidelines, for example thorough vetting of applicants and pledge for breeding program participation) for a fee--tortoises go to good homes, actually making MORE tortoises, don't risk introducing pathogens to an existing population (at the relocation site), and the city actually MAKES money instead of SPENDS money.

Of course, this doesn't address the real problem (habitat loss), and I'm sure the PeTA crowd would go nuts because "animals belong in the wild" regardless of unintended consequences (disease, homing instinct leading to reoad mortality, etc).
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

[ Hide Replies ]

• RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - jscrick, Thu Apr 15 21:40:55 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - emysbreeder, Fri Apr 16 00:14:18 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - Chris_McMartin, Sat Apr 17 07:27:54 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - emysbreeder, Sat Apr 17 09:19:45 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - jscrick, Sat Apr 17 11:56:59 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - emysbreeder, Sat Apr 17 15:36:22 2010
• URI OF GOPHER TORTOISES - amazonreptile, Tue Apr 20 15:40:06 2010
• RE: URI OF GOPHER TORTOISES - jscrick, Tue Apr 20 17:42:48 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - brhaco, Fri Apr 16 08:18:00 2010
• Good stuff! - jscrick, Fri Apr 16 08:58:01 2010
• RE: Good stuff! - StephF, Sun Apr 18 17:18:23 2010
• RE: Good stuff! - jscrick, Sun Apr 18 19:50:10 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - TOM_CRUTCHFIELD, Fri Apr 16 17:58:25 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - jscrick, Fri Apr 16 20:33:35 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - jscrick, Fri Apr 16 20:46:25 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - emysbreeder, Sat Apr 17 09:33:41 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - jscrick, Sat Apr 17 12:03:22 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - emysbreeder, Sat Apr 17 15:42:04 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - Jaykis, Sat Apr 17 20:01:05 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - Calparsoni, Mon Apr 19 07:38:55 2010
• Very sorry to hear that - brhaco, Sat Apr 17 08:38:24 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - Jaykis, Fri Apr 16 18:07:42 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - Calparsoni, Mon Apr 19 08:01:48 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - jscrick, Mon Apr 19 08:27:12 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - lep1pic1, Mon Apr 19 09:09:39 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - jscrick, Mon Apr 19 10:36:58 2010
• RE: RELOCATION OF GOPHER TORTOISES - laurarfl, Wed Apr 21 13:16:14 2010