Fl. Gopher Torts...protected by NO law...more inside...

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Posted by Matt J. on November 25, 2001 at 19:06:28:

In Reply to: Re: Fl. Gopher Tortoise.... posted by Richard Denhard on November 25, 2001 at 15:37:00:

: These Tortise's are protected by Flordia Law. Check out this link. http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/pd/gopher.htm

Yes, it's true they are "protected" by law. BUT, the law DOES NOT, repeat, does not offer any actual protection. What is illegal? To willfully harm, relocate without permit or consume one. What is 100% legal??? To actually KILL them!!! How? There is another law here in good old (soon to be one giant city) Florida that allows developers to pay a fine and ENTOMB the Gopher. Sounds sick and untrue? Yes, VERY sick, and sorry, it's all true. In most cases relocation is not an option since URI disease is so prevelant in many Florida populations. So, relocation of animals to a healthy population is extremely labor intensive and bad for developement interests. Hence, this happy little law that lets developers kill them. SAD, SAD, SAD!!! I will look back fondly on the days when I can say I remember when Gophers were a nice tortoise to see in the wild. Those days are numbered...

Matt
p.s. - Sorry to be such a "downer", but most people have NO CLUE that this happens here in Florida on a daily basis.

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: : These Tortise's are protected by Flordia Law. Check out this link. http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/pd/gopher.htm : Yes, it's true they are "protected" by law. BUT, the law DOES NOT, repeat, does not offer any actual protection. What is illegal? To willfully harm, relocate without permit or consume one. What is 100% legal??? To actually KILL them!!! How? There is another law here in good old (soon to be one giant city) Florida that allows developers to pay a fine and ENTOMB the Gopher. Sounds sick and untrue? Yes, VERY sick, and sorry, it's all true. In most cases relocation is not an option since URI disease is so prevelant in many Florida populations. So, relocation of animals to a healthy population is extremely labor intensive and bad for developement interests. Hence, this happy little law that lets developers kill them. SAD, SAD, SAD!!! I will look back fondly on the days when I can say I remember when Gophers were a nice tortoise to see in the wild. Those days are numbered... : Matt : p.s. - Sorry to be such a "downer", but most people have NO CLUE that this happens here in Florida on a daily basis.

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