Kim Sash (GTC Junior Co-Chair)

I’m very excited to be the incoming Co-Chair for the Gopher Tortoise Council and work alongside the current Senior Co-Chair, Eric Sievers. I have worked on gopher tortoises for many years in north Florida and south Georgia as a biologist with Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy. I’ve conducted gopher tortoise surveys and research on gopher tortoises, including pathogen studies. I’ve also helped to conserve gopher tortoise habitat through conservation easements. I feel very fortunate to be part of the Gopher Tortoise Council and I’m glad to know that gopher tortoises have an amazing group of people working to protect and study them. 

I am also very proud of the way the Gopher Tortoise Council fosters the next generation of students working on tortoises and tortoise habitat. The Council offers several grants that assist students with research, outreach, and travel grants for our annual member meeting. Encouraging the next generation of biologists is incredibly important for the continued protection of the gopher tortoise. 

Gopher tortoises face a lot of threats throughout their range. The Gopher Tortoise Council brings together brilliant minds working on gopher tortoises and the habitats associated with them to fortify the future for gopher tortoises. I want to thank our membership for their support and donations. The growth of the Gopher Tortoise Council is thanks to this support and our shared goals of gopher tortoise conservation.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all at our next member meeting November 15-17 at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

Best,

Kim Sash