The Gopher Tortoise Council

About Me

The Gopher Tortoise Council (GTC) was formed in 1978 by a group of biologists and others concerned about the range-wide decline of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). The Council offers professional advice for management, conservation, and protection of gopher tortoises; encourages the study of the life history, ecology, and management of gopher tortoises and other upland species; conducts active public information and conservation education programs, and seeks effective protection of the gopher tortoise and other upland species throughout the southeastern United States. The gopher tortoise is a species in decline and warrants additional protection rangewide on both a state and federal level. It is a species that lives a long life, reaches sexual maturity at over ten years of age, produces relatively small clutches, experiences low recruitment, and suffers from an upper respiratory tract disease, high levels of predation and loss of habitat. Severe losses in the western half of its range have resulted in the gopher tortoise being listed as Federally Threatened in Louisiana, Mississippi, and western Alabama.Visit Our Website

My Interests

www.gophertortoisecouncil.org

Click on the pictures below to view GTC upland snake species accounts, feel free to download and distribute! More are available on our website

"...Everything affecting the gopher tortoise's habitat affects the tortoise and ... eventually affects all other organisms in its ecosystem. Efforts to save the gopher tortoise are really a manifestation of our desire to preserve intact, significant pieces of the biosphere....We must preserve...the gopher tortoise and other species in similar predicaments, for if we do not, we lose a part of our humanity, a part of our habitat, and ultimately our world."

Dr. George W. Folkerts

I'd like to meet:

Anyone interested in the ecology and conservation of the gopher tortoise and its habitat. For more information, view our website: www.gophertortoisecouncil.org Are you interested in becoming a member of The Gopher Tortoise Council? Click here to join the GTC

My Blog

Plum Creek Timber Company provides new home for 1,781 gopher tortoises

April 9, 2008 Contacts: (FWC) Henry Cabbage, 850-528-1755; (Plum Creek) Heather Mikes, 239-898-0001 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Plum Creek Timber C...
Posted by The Gopher Tortoise Council on Fri, 09 May 2008 10:53:00 PST

New Tortoise Permitting Guidelines

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wednesday approved the Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines, the first major step in launching the gopher tortoise management plan approved...
Posted by The Gopher Tortoise Council on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:49:00 PST

Worked with Gopher Tortoises?

Have you worked with gopher tortoises or been involved with conservation of its upland habitats? Share your experiences here and give those unfamiliar with conservation opportunities some examples of...
Posted by The Gopher Tortoise Council on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 05:16:00 PST

GTC 2008 Meeting

Mark your calendars, general information regarding the 2008 Gopher Tortoise Council meeting can now be found on our website. Click Here for a direct link.See you on Jekyll Island....
Posted by The Gopher Tortoise Council on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:23:00 PST

Gopher Tortoise Conservation

Interested in hearing about the Gopher Tortoise Council’s official position on Tortoise Conservation? Click Here...
Posted by The Gopher Tortoise Council on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:52:00 PST

Upland Snake Conservation Initiative

The Upland Snake Conservation Initiative (USCI) evolved from the Gopher Tortoise Council’s Rattlesnake Conservation Committee, which no longer exists. The USCI will address many issues and resea...
Posted by The Gopher Tortoise Council on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:44:00 PST