Florida Activists: Tortoises Should Be Relocated, Not Killed

By Angels in Distress
02/06/2025 | 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 before dying. Activists urge state regulators and companies to relocate—not kill—tortoises found on development sites.

What’s Happening

  • The Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife (FWC) has granted permits that allow developers to bury gopher tortoises alive (“incidental take”) rather than relocate them to suitable habitat.

  • Gopher tortoises are listed in Florida as a “species of special concern” and have declined by an estimated 80% across their range, primarily due to habitat loss.

  • As a keystone species, their burrows support a healthy ecosystem and shelter hundreds of other animals.

Why Relocation Matters

Florida currently offers two compliance paths when development impacts tortoise habitat:

  1. Relocation Permit
    Developers find, capture, and move tortoises to protected, suitable habitat.

  2. Incidental Take Permit (cheaper route)
    Developers may bury tortoises alive but must pay into a fund intended to purchase habitat elsewhere.

The problem: The acres set aside so far do not offset the ongoing loss of thousands of tortoises each year. Given the tortoise’s slow reproductive cycle, recovery from such declines is prolonged—if not impossible.

Our Position

  • Companies operating in gopher tortoise habitat should commit to relocation as the default, with adequate planning, humane capture, and release into verified, protected sites.

  • Regulators should stop issuing entombment permits and require relocation to suitable habitat with disease screening and post-release monitoring.

What You Can Do (Take Action)

1) Contact Wal-Mart

Ask the company to locate and relocate all tortoises before breaking ground anywhere tortoises occur—and to avoid building in areas with rare species whenever possible.

2) Urge Florida Regulators to End Entombment Permits

Request that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission stop issuing entombment permits and instead require relocation to suitable, protected habitat.

  • Address:
    Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
    Farris Bryant Building
    620 S. Meridian St.
    Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

  • Phone:
    Main: (850) 488-4676
    Wildlife Law Violation Hotline: (888) 404-FWCC (3922)
    24-hour Wildlife Alert: (888) 404-FWCC ((888) 404-3922)
    From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., you may page: (800) 241-4653, ID# 274-4867 (incluye tu código de área).

  • Online contact: http://research.myfwc.com/contact/contact.asp

  • Email the Commission: (utiliza el formulario de contacto del enlace anterior).

Thank You

Thank you for raising your voice for gopher tortoises. With your help, we can replace entombment with relocation, protecting a keystone species and the many animals that depend on their burrows.