Why are gopher tortoises and tortoise burrows a concern for land owners, developers, land managers or anyone changing land use?
The presence of keystone protected species like the gopher tortoise places certain requirements on anyone considering land use change. In addition to providing a home to the tortoise, the burrows provide a shelter for numerous other vertebrate and invertebrate animals. You may not see much movement of animals on the surface – but underground in the gopher tortoise burrows numerous creatures go about their daily activities. Some burrow associates live most or all of their lives in the burrows. Burrows are particularly important during periods of cold, heat or drought. They are a refuge for over 360 animal species. Without these burrows, many animals, including gopher tortoises would die. The presence of this burrow is vital to the health of the uplands ecosystem including some rare or endangered species. If gopher tortoises disappear, what will happen to these animals? Will the gopher frog, cotton mouse, gopher cricket, indigo snake, burrowing owl, scarab beetle and other animals disapp
Related Questions
- Does the land department decide the service charges levied by developers from property owners for amenities and common facilities provided in their residential projects?
- Why are gopher tortoises and tortoise burrows a concern for land owners, developers, land managers or anyone changing land use?
- Why should owners, developers and property managers consider sub-metering?
