Gopher Tortoises in Florida: Plantation Oaks Controversy Raises Concerns

Gopher Tortoises in Florida: Plantation Oaks Controversy Raises Concerns Developer gets OK to destroy hundreds of gopher tortoises The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently upgraded the gopher tortoise from a “species of special concern” to a threatened species. This new classification promises stronger protection in the future, including restrictions on entombment — […]

Florida Activists Tortoises Should be Relocated, Not Killed

Florida Activists: Tortoises Should Be Relocated, Not Killed By Angels in Distress02/06/2025 | Tortoises Summary Florida’s gopher tortoises continue to lose ground to development. Recent permits allowed a Wal-Mart project in Palm Beach County to entomb tortoises in their burrows instead of relocating them. Because of their slow metabolism, entombed tortoises can suffer for months […]

Tortoises Likely To Get A Break​

Tortoises Likely To Get A Break By: Kevin Spear, Sentinel Staff Writer02/06/2025 | Angels in Distress | Tortoises,  A Turning Point for Florida’s Gopher Tortoises Momentum is building to protect gopher tortoises—even among developers. Florida’s long-criticized policy that allows construction projects to entomb tortoises in their burrows could largely end next year. Since 1992, the […]

Killing Animals for Profit​

Killing Animals for Profit By Carl Hiaasen02/06/2025 | Angels in Distress    When “Development” Becomes Destruction If your kids asked to bury a small animal alive, you’d be horrified. You’d tell them it’s cruel, unacceptable — something no decent person would do. Most children already know that’s wrong. Unfortunately, the adults in charge of Florida’s […]

The state allows the Wal-Mart store’s developers to bury the tortoises alive

The state allows the Wal-Mart store’s developers to bury the tortoises alive By Robert P. Kin02/06/2025 | Angels in Distress | Editor’s note: Report originally published (2005) in The Palm Beach Post. Refeatured for context and public interest. Slow deaths of five tortoises expose a horrifying practice North Palm Beach County shoppers seeking low-priced pants, patio […]

Activist “Don’t Bury Turtles Alive​

Activist “Don’t Bury Turtles Alive Florida’s Silent Battle: Saving the Buried Tortoises By Charles Rabin A Broward animal rights activist is taking on a powerful state agency to protect one of Florida’s most vulnerable species: the gopher tortoise. These small, burrow-dwelling reptiles are at risk of being buried alive as developers clear land for new […]

Tortoises Likely To Get A Break

Tortoises Likely To Get A Break Florida Moves to Protect the Gopher Tortoise By Kevin Spear, Sentinel Staff Writer A Turning Point for the Gopher Tortoise Efforts to protect one of Florida’s most emblematic species, the gopher tortoise, are finally gaining traction — even among developers. The state’s long-criticized policy allowing developers to bury tortoises […]