The natural habitat of the gopher tortoise is comprised of Florida scrubland and pine flat woods. The gopher tortoise is considered a Threatened species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. On July 31, 2007, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission implemented a rule eliminating the "take" of gopher tortoises. Gopher tortoises in the path of development must now be relocated to a suitable habitat. As a result of the emphasis on protecting this species, Lykes Bros. Inc. established a recipient site to welcome relocated tortoises. The site sits within a conservation easement and contains high-quality habitat for new populations. Going forward, the company plans to expand its activities in species mitigation in the landscape scale setting of the Lykes Ranch. If you are interested in gopher tortoise mitigation, please contact our office at 863-763-3041.