Gopher tortoises live in every Florida county and, since more than half of the land in Florida is privately owned, the FWC recognizes the critical role private property owners play in conserving gopher tortoises.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s new Gopher Tortoise Friendly Yard Recognition Program honors Florida’s private landowners for contributing to wildlife conservation.
Gopher tortoises live in every Florida county and, since more than half of the land in Florida is privately owned, the FWC recognizes the critical role private property owners play in conserving gopher tortoises.
The purpose of the program is to recognize and encourage landowners to enhance habitat quality and take steps to protect gopher tortoises and their burrows.
These efforts will also benefit the many other species that use tortoise burrows for shelter, foraging and nesting habitat.
The private landowners who the take steps to protect gopher tortoises and their burrows will be recognized with certificates and signs for their property.
Any Florida property owner can take steps to make land gopher tortoise friendly. Applicants must sign the Acknowledgement Form, provide contact and property information, and complete the Gopher Tortoise Friendly Yard checklist.
Each application will be reviewed upon submission.
For more information on volunteering with the FWC or to request an application, email GTEvents@MyFWC.com.
For more information about wildlife in spring, visit MyFWC.com/News and click on “Spring Wildlife News.” ¦
We would like to get a couple of gopher tortoise friendly yard signs for both our lots. 17208 & 17217 Sabrina Circle, Port Charlotte, FL.