Keep reading for the latest news and announcements from the Gopher Tortoise Council
Save the Date for GTC's 2023 Annual Meeting
This year's annual meeting will be held in Tifton, GA from November 16-19. We hope to see you there! Keep an eye on the GTC website and future newsletters for additional meeting details later this year.
2023 J. Larry Landers Student Research Grant Recipients
Gopher Tortoise Council is pleased to announce the following recipients of 2023 J. Larry Landers Student Research Grants:
Krista Ruppert, Ph.D. student, Mississippi State University $2,000
Project: Assessment of the genetic diversity and relatedness of gopher frogs on the Conecuh National Forest, Covington County, AL
Garrett Lawson, M.S. student, Virginia Tech $2,400
Project: Gopher tortoise nest-site selection and the effect of nest environment on hatching success
Congratulations to both of this year's grant recipients!
Reserve Your Gopher Tortoise License Plate Today!
Wildlands Conservation is still accepting orders for the specialty gopher tortoise license plate. In order to bring awareness to the plight of the gopher tortoise, we have created this specialty license plate and will use the generated funds for gopher tortoise habitat conservation, habitat management, education, and research. With your help, we can help protect gopher tortoises and their upland habitat! The gopher tortoise plate, with artwork by Matt Patterson, will be produced as soon as 3,000 vouchers have been purchased. Vouchers cost $33 each, of which $25 will directly go towards gopher tortoise conservation. If you hold a valid Florida Driver’s License or have a Florida-registered vehicle, you are eligible to purchase vouchers for your car, truck, trailer, and RV! Vouchers can be purchased at any time–you do not need to wait until your registration renewal date to order one. To reserve your plate and for more information, visit https://wildlandsconservation.org/gopher-tortoise-license-plate.
Donna J. Heinrich Environmental Education Grant
The GTC Environmental Education Grant was established to support educators and organizations committed to developing educational projects about the gopher tortoise and the fascinating world in which it lives. The grant also honors Donna J. Heinrich, an environmental educator, whose life was dedicated to conserving wildlife and their associated habitats. Grant proposals may focus on the conservation of gopher tortoises, other upland species, and their associated habitats. Please click here for more information on eligibility, reporting requirements, and application guidelines and format.
Please send submissions and questions to George L. Heinrich at george@
Gopher Tortoise Job Opportunity
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is hiring a Gopher Tortoise Conservation Biologist out of Lakeland, Florida. Details on the position and how to apply can be found here.