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Protected Wildlife Permit Applications
Falconry
We issue Non-resident Raptor Take permits to out-of-state falconers. Falconers must possess a falconry license from their home state as well as a federal falconry license from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Florida residents seeking to become a licensed falconer should contact the Commission's Division of Law Enforcement website or contact the office at (850) 488-6253.
Florida Burrowing Owls
Burrowing owls often nest on vacant lots in rapidly developing suburban areas and may respond to disturbed soil conditions associated with early construction activities. Home construction subsequently is a major cause of burrow destruction, in these areas. The Commission's policy is to issue permits to allow destruction of burrowing owl nest burrows only as a last resort and after all reasonable alternatives (such as realigning development to avoid the nest) have been considered and determined impractical. Please review Burrowing Owl Nest Protection Guidelines and Procedures in Urban Areas for nest removal requirements for a permit. Protection criteria for non-urban situations or situations where numerous burrows will be impacted, will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Gopher Tortoise Relocation
Current Guidelines
Five Options available to address the presence of tortoises on lands slated for development are: avoid development, avoid destruction of tortoise burrows, mitigate by preserving additional habitat, and relocate tortoises on-site or relocate them off-site. Relocation requires a permit from the Commission.
The Division of Habitat and Species Conservation's Species Conservation Planning Section (SCPS) issues two types of tortoise relocation permits.
The standard tortoise relocation permit is available for development projects which require the relocation of more than five tortoises on-site or relocation of any number of tortoises off-site. Off-site relocation of tortoises may require testing of tortoises for Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) at the discretion of the landowner.
The special tortoise relocation permit is available online for projects (usually single residential construction) which require the relocation of five or fewer tortoises on-site.
Applications for standard relocation permits are submitted to the SCPS Tallahassee and Regional Office. Applications for special relocation permits are submitted to a Regional Contact Person.
The gopher tortoise capture, handling and transport requirements of the April 2008 guidelines are now in effect. The use of enclosures (see page 16 of these guidelines) within recipient sites for the soft release of gopher tortoises are required as a condition of all standard relocation and interim incidental take permits issued for permit applications that are not received in hard copy at the FWC Tallahassee office by 5 P.M. on May 30, 2008 and determined to be complete. FWC is only approving new recipient sites using one of the new recipient site applications below. For further information, please refer to the Changes in the FWC process for approving new gopher tortoise recipient areas guidance document (1 October 2008). The Long-term Protected Recipient Site permit application is now available and can be submitted to FWC as of June 1, 2008. The FWC will be issuing these permits over the next year to build capacity that will be available when the requirement for using Long-term Protected Recipient Sites goes into effect. The application for Short-term Protected or Unprotected Recipient Site permit is also available and can be submitted to FWC. However, the conservation permit process that requires the use of permitted Recipient Sites will not be implemented by the FWC until Spring 2009. Applications for Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent permits are available as of September 2, 2008. Please consult the revised requirements before applying to become an Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent. As of October 7, 2008, training courses to be offered by Ashton Biodiversity Research Institute, LPG Environmental and Permitting, and Pandion Systems have been approved under the condition that future FWC evaluation of the training will precede final approval. The use of Authorized Agents for gopher tortoise permit activities will not be required by FWC until Spring 2009 but please apply as soon as possible so that you are permitted before the use of authorized agents is required. |
Permitting Guidelines
The Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines (April 2008 – revised September 2008) associated with the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan will be implemented in phases. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions for detail regarding implementation. The Current Guidelines (below) will be updated as new guidelines are implemented. If you have any questions pertaining to these guidelines, please contact Deborah Burr, Gopher Tortoise Plan Coordinator at Deborah.Burr@MyFWC.com.
Gopher Tortoise Enforcement Policy (effective 3/6/2008)
FWC Policy Protecting Tortoises and Their Burrows
Agricultural, silvicultural, and wildlife management activities which impact gopher tortoises or gopher tortoise burrows do not require a permit if they are conducted in accordance with the Gopher Tortoise Enforcement Policy. These activities include tilling, planting, harvesting, prescribed burning, mowing, disking, roller chopping, and tree cutting. For additional guidance on activities that do not require a permit, refer to the Gopher Tortoise Enforcement Policy above.
Incidental take permits
Incidental take (I.T.) permits are issued for activities that impact areas currently occupied by gopher tortoises and to mitigate any accidental impacts to tortoises by providing a degree of habitat protection similar to that provided by DRI developers, as outlined in the Commissions Gopher Tortoise Habitat Protection Guidelines. The Commission's Division of Habitat and Species Conservation handles issuance of all incidental take permits.
An interim revised tortoise I.T. policy was approved by FWC Commissioners at the June 13, 2007 meeting. This interim policy was implemented July 31, 2007. Under the interim policy, tortoise I.T. permits issued for applications either received by the FWC after July 30, 2007 or previously received applications remaining incomplete after July 30, 2007 must relocate all tortoises out of harm's way as a specific condition of the issued permits. Please review answers to common questions about this policy.
Scientific/Educational collecting
Scientific/educational collecting permits are issued for activities which include salvage, voucher, bird banding, wildlife possession and special purpose (specific projects which require any combination of the methods of scientific collecting). Applications must demonstrate scientific/educational benefits that will be accrued for the subject species as well as identify the purpose, scope, objective, methodology, location and duration of the project.
Avitrol Use
Avitrol use permits are issued to licensed Pest Control Operators for control of non-listed Bird species, primarily pigeons, which aggregate in a manner to become a nuisance and/or pose health risks to human populations.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Regional wildlife diversity conservation biologists (Regionals) are available to provide technical assistance on assorted listed non-marine wildlife issues. You should contact the Regional for your area to discuss wildlife scientific collecting, ecology, and nuisance issues. Some situations involve both technical assistance and permitting. We ask that you contact the SCPS Tallahassee Office regarding issuance of required permits, early on, while seeking technical assistance through the Regional office.