Florida's Gopher Tortoises Need Your Help
Florida's gopher tortoises are dying at the hands of developers. Even
though the gopher tortoise is a "threatened" species, the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) still grants permits that
allow developers to bulldoze gopher tortoise habitat, crushing
tortoises to death or burying them alive. An estimated 80,000 gopher
tortoises have been buried alive since 1991.
The FWC won't start to protect gopher tortoises until a final
management plan is approved. The deadline for comments on drafting the
plan is August 8 at 5 p.m. EST.
TAKE ACTION
Tell the FWC that gopher tortoises must be protected. E-mail them via
Angela Williams at Angela.williams@myfwc.com (myfwc.com)
