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FWC: No killing little gators or burying gophers
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Location: Blogs Now We're Talking |
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| Posted by: Joe Byrnes |
6/15/2007 2:10 AM |
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made important decisions this week affecting alligators and gopher tortoises. Gators and gophers were topics of previous blog entries - so this is an update.
Alligator Management
The commission decided Wednesday "not to open the door to allowing homeowners to dispose of small nuisance alligators on their own. Rather, they decided to continue the requirement that people contact the FWC, and the agency will dispatch nuisance alligator trappers to remove the reptiles," according to an FWC news release.
The staff's proposal had included the option of allowing homeowners to "euthanize" the smaller gators.
"FWC Commissioners, meeting in a two-day session in Melbourne, also turned thumbs down to a proposal to issue statewide permits to recreational alligator hunters and agreed to continue issuing countywide permits.
They also decided not to allow daytime recreational alligator hunting or the use of small-caliber handguns to dispatch alligators.
"On the other hand," the news release continues, "Commissioners did approve, in concept, an array of new alligator management provisions, including use of artificial lures to reel in alligators during statewide harvests and provisions to streamline requirements of the Private Lands Alligator Management Program.
"For instance, Commissioners approved removing the 6- to 9-foot closed slot limit on alligators taken in the FWC’s Private Lands Alligator Management Program and to pursue broader public awareness regarding living peacefully with alligators.
"Based on the Commissioners’ guidance, FWC staff will prepare appropriate rule proposals for further consideration in future Commission meetings."
Gopher Tortoise Protection
On Tuesday the FWC approved ending the "entombment" of gopher tortoises, which had been allowed in some cases. Instead, developers will have to relocate them.
"Entombment occurs when construction activity fills in or covers a gopher tortoise burrow, preventing escape of tortoises and other animals that may be inside," according to another FWC news release."
“We’ve listened to our stakeholders on this issue and have developed a policy we believe meets the needs of both Floridians and wildlife,” said Greg Holder, gopher tortoise management plan team leader, said in a prepared statement.
"The interim policy will affect developers who apply for incidental take permits after July 30. The policy will also apply to anyone who has an incomplete incidental take permit application before that date.
"The policy is an interim measure that will remain in effect until the FWC can begin a new permitting process detailed in the gopher tortoise management plan. The plan protects individual gopher tortoises by requiring developers to relocate them in a way that ensures their long-term survival. The plan protects gopher tortoise habitat through conservation easements, and proposes habitat management to make the number of tortoises that can live and reproduce in relocated areas as high as possible."
Joe Byrnes can be reached at joe@ocala.com or (352) 867-4112.
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