Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are an endangered species native to the Southeast and a critical part of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Their burrows shelter hundreds of other species, making them a true keystone species in Florida and beyond.
Before any development can begin on land where gopher tortoises are present, they must be safely relocated by a licensed wildlife agent. But where do they go according to the Endangered Species Act?
They’re placed into protected environments called gopher tortoise sanctuaries—officially known as recipient sites by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). These sites are designed to provide long-term habitat for tortoises to live and thrive.
What Is a Gopher Tortoise Sanctuary (Recipient Site)?
A gopher tortoise sanctuary—officially termed a recipient site by FWC—is a designated parcel of land approved to receive relocated tortoises. These sites meet strict habitat, fencing, and management requirements to preserve gopher tortoise habitat, and relocated tortoises can thrive.
Here’s what defines an FWC recipient site:
Permanent Protection: Recipient sites must offer long-term conservation assurances, often through conservation easements or public ownership.
Verified Habitat Quality: These areas are located within natural longleaf pine forests, sandhill ecosystems, or similar key habitats preferred by gopher tortoises.
Carrying Capacity: Each site is approved to accept only a certain number of tortoises, based on acreage and habitat suitability.
FWC Monitoring and Permitting: Sites are listed and regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and are mapped publicly for transparency. Find Recipient Sites Here
Terminology Note:
While many refer to these areas as “sanctuaries,” the official term used in permitting and wildlife service regulations is “recipient site”.
Why Recipient Sites Exist
The growing footprint of development in states like Florida, Georgia, and Alabama has led to widespread habitat destruction. As a result:
Tortoises are increasingly displaced from their native territories.
Habitat loss is one of the top threats to the gopher tortoise population.
Recipient sites help offset the environmental impact by preserving large, healthy parcels of land specifically for tortoise conservation.
These sanctuaries aren’t just refuges for tortoises. They also benefit many other species that rely on the same ecosystem, helping to maintain balance in the broader longleaf pine ecosystem.
2 Types of Recipient Sites
Gopher tortoise sanctuaries, or recipient sites, are not one-size-fits-all. Each site must meet specific ecological and regulatory standards to qualify under FWC guidelines. These sites fall into two primary categories: private lands and public lands, which play a critical role in the conservation of gopher tortoises.
1. Private Lands
Private recipient sites are typically large, privately owned tracts enrolled in the FWC’s recipient site program. Many are managed under conservation easements, legally binding agreements that restrict future land use to protect the environment.
Key features of private recipient sites include:
Long-term conservation commitments
The landowner must agree to maintain the property suitable for the gopher tortoise habitat indefinitely.
Approved carrying capacity
FWC determines how many tortoises each site can sustain based on soil type, vegetation, and total acreage.
Management plans
Private site owners are responsible for following strict land management protocols, which may include prescribed burns, invasive species removal, and routine habitat monitoring.
Private lands provide flexibility and help expand the population of gopher tortoises in a statewide network of sanctuaries, especially where public lands are at capacity.
2. Public Lands
These recipient sites are located on government-managed or conservation partner lands, such as:
State parks and wildlife management areas
Lands held by conservation nonprofits
Military installations with preserved habitat zones
Agencies with the resources and staff generally maintain public sites to manage large-scale ecosystems. These areas are often already home to wild tortoises and are part of broader ecosystem restoration goals.
Benefits of public recipient sites:
Often support many species beyond tortoises, from predators like snakes to pollinators and native birds.
State or federal wildlife service agencies can monitor it.
Typically situated within historic longleaf pine or sandhill regions, it is critical for maintaining ecological continuity.
These recipient sites work in tandem to preserve threatened species, restore degraded lands, and ensure that endangered or vulnerable wildlife, like the gopher tortoise, can survive and support other species that share their burrows and habitat.
Life Inside a Sanctuary
Once relocated to a recipient site, gopher tortoises enter a habitat managed explicitly for survival. These gopher tortoise sanctuaries aren’t just holding areas; they are carefully maintained environments designed to support the long-term health of tortoises and the broader ecosystem they sustain.
What Does a Gopher Tortoise Sanctuary Look Like?
Most recipient sites mirror the tortoise’s native habitat, with:
Open-canopy forests are dominated by longleaf pine, wiregrass, and other native groundcover.
Sandy, well-drained soils are perfect for burrowing.
Abundant food sources include low-growing herbs, grasses, and seasonal vegetation.
These conditions are vital for tortoise health and burrow construction—burrows play a key role in sheltering many other species, particularly in fire-adapted ecosystems like those found in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
More Than Just a Home for Tortoises
Gopher tortoise sanctuaries serve as biodiversity hotspots. A single burrow can be home to or benefit over 350 different species, including:
Gopher frogs
Eastern indigo snakes
Quail
Burrowing owls
Various insects, reptiles, and small mammals
These recipient sites help counteract the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation due to development, providing critical shelter for tortoises and the entire ecological community they support.
Are Recipient Sites Monitored?
How Are Tortoises Placed at a Sanctuary?
Yes. FWC-approved recipient sites must meet long-term management standards, including:
Habitat maintenance (e.g., prescribed burns, vegetation control)
Burrow surveys to confirm tortoise health and activity
Periodic reporting to regulatory authorities
Protection against predators, invasive species, and human disturbance
Sites are reviewed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to ensure compliance with permit conditions and conservation goals. This oversight is key to the survival of this threatened species and the health of the longleaf pine ecosystem.
Relocating a gopher tortoise isn’t as simple as capturing and releasing it elsewhere. The process is tightly regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to ensure the safety of the tortoise and the long-term integrity of its new habitat.
Step-by-Step: From Survey to Sanctuary
Here’s how the relocation process works when a tortoise is found on a property that’s being developed:
Professional Survey and Mapping
A licensed wildlife agent conducts a Phase I or II survey to identify active gopher tortoise burrows.
The number of tortoises and the condition of the habitat are documented.
This information determines the permitting requirements and influences relocation costs.
Obtain FWC Relocation Permit
All gopher tortoise relocations require a valid permit from FWC.
The permit specifies where the tortoises can be relocated and confirms space availability at a qualified recipient site.
Select an Approved Recipient Site
The agent coordinates with a recipient site on public or private lands that is listed on FWC’s Gopher Tortoise Recipient Site Map.
Each tortoise must go to a site with a suitable habitat and available capacity.
Capture and Transport
Tortoises are carefully excavated by hand or using non-invasive equipment under strict guidelines.
They are transported to their new home in climate-appropriate containers, minimizing stress and injury.
Placement and Monitoring
Upon arrival, tortoises are released into open habitats, sometimes within temporary enclosures to help them acclimate.
Their movements and burrow use may be observed during the early post-release period.
What Does It Cost to Place a Gopher Tortoise in a Sanctuary?
Relocating a gopher tortoise to a certified sanctuary (recipient site) involves several cost factors. The per-tortoise fee reflects more than just transport—it’s about legal compliance and long-term ecological success.
Key Cost Factors
Here are the primary drivers of relocation costs:
-
Number of Tortoises – More tortoises require more excavation, coordination, and placement fees.
-
Recipient Site Type
-
Private sites often charge per tortoise, depending on location and capacity.
-
Public sites may have alternate fee structures but often involve similar handling costs.
-
-
Distance to Site – Longer transport increases fuel and logistics expenses.
-
Survey and Permitting – Licensed agents must conduct site surveys to count active burrows, which shape permit requirements and ensure FWC compliance.
-
Excavation and Handling – Professionals manually and carefully remove tortoises to prevent harm and ensure legal relocation.
Why It's Worth It
Investing in proper relocation:
Keeps your project compliant with state and federal wildlife laws
Helps protect a threatened species
Avoids costly delays and fines
Supports broader ecosystem restoration
Smart Planning Tip
To stay on track and budget:
Engage a licensed agent early
Get a Phase II survey if burrows are present
Account for placement and permitting fees in your project planning
Why These Sanctuaries Matter
Gopher tortoise sanctuaries—or recipient sites—are key to protecting this threatened species and the larger ecosystems they support. These aren’t just safe spaces but hubs for wildlife recovery and habitat restoration.
More Than Just the Tortoise
As a keystone species, gopher tortoises provide critical shelter to:
Gopher frogs
Indigo snakes
Burrowing owls
Other insects, reptiles, and small mammals
One tortoise burrow can benefit hundreds of species that rely on stable, healthy wildlife habitats.
A Regional Conservation Tool
With ongoing habitat destruction in states like Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, recipient sites:
Safeguard remaining key habitats
Restore longleaf pine ecosystems
Ensure lands remain managed for conservation use
Collaborative Protection
Recipient sites succeed through partnerships with:
Private landowners
Conservation partners
The FWC, Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies
Together, these efforts give gopher tortoises—and the many species they support—a real chance at survival in the wild.
How Landowners and Developers Can Ensure Compliance
If you’re planning a project in an area where gopher tortoises may be present, understanding your legal responsibilities is essential, not just for environmental reasons, but to avoid costly delays and penalties.
What You Should Know
Gopher tortoises are protected under Florida law, and the tortoise and its burrows are off-limits without a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Development on land where tortoises are present cannot begin until they are lawfully relocated to a permitted recipient site.
Here’s how landowners and developers can stay in compliance:
Hire a Licensed Wildlife Agent Early – Don’t wait until bulldozers are on-site. Bring in a qualified expert to perform a gopher tortoise survey and habitat assessment during the planning phase.
Get a Phase II Survey If Needed – If active burrows are found, a more detailed Phase II survey will determine the number of tortoises, informing permitting and relocation logistics.
Budget for Per-Tortoise Placement Fees – As discussed earlier, each tortoise must be placed into an FWC-approved sanctuary, and a per-tortoise cost is typically involved.
Use the FWC Mapping Tool – The FWC Gopher Tortoise Permit Map lets you view recipient sites, ensuring your tortoises are relocated to legal and ecologically appropriate habitats.
Why It Matters
Following the proper procedures doesn’t just protect your project timeline; it contributes to the ongoing conservation of a keystone species and helps maintain functioning ecosystems across Florida and the broader Southeast.
A Protected Future for a Keystone Species
Gopher tortoise sanctuaries—officially known as recipient sites—are more than just a legal requirement for developers. They are essential to preserving one of the Southeast’s most important natural resources, the keystone species and the rich ecosystems that depend on them. By relocating tortoises to these protected habitats, we’re supporting a threatened species and protecting many other species that rely on their burrows and the broader longleaf pine ecosystem.
Whether on private or public lands, these sanctuaries are vital strongholds against ongoing habitat loss, development pressures, and ecological decline across Florida and the Southeast.
Need Assistance With Gopher Tortoise Relocation? We're Here to Help.
If you’re a landowner, developer, or consultant in need of guidance, our team at Premier Gopher Tortoise Services is fully licensed and experienced in:
Gopher tortoise surveys (Phase I & II)
Permit coordination with FWC
Safe, compliant tortoise relocation
Coordination with FWC-certified recipient sites
We help you protect your project—and Florida’s wildlife—with professional, ethical, and solutions-oriented support.
📞 Contact Us Today to schedule a consultation or request a site survey.