Keep reading for the latest news and announcements from the Gopher Tortoise Council, including:
- Final details for the upcoming annual meeting
- Become a GTC member
- Gopher tortoise license plate available now!
There's Still Time to Register for the 47th Annual Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting
Everything you need to know about the upcoming annual meeting can be found here. We can't wait to see everyone at Tall Timbers in November! Even if you can't attend, you can support GTC's mission by purchasing t-shirts, hats, and more featuring this year's meeting logo. A silent auction will take place at this year’s meeting so bring your best items to contribute! Our auctions at the annual meeting support GTC’s grant programs. Please consider donating auction items at the meeting to raise money for environmental education, student research, and gopher tortoise day funding!
Support GTC by Becoming a Member or Renewing Your Annual Membership
With Gopher Tortoise Day behind us, celebrate gopher tortoises all year long and consider joining the Gopher Tortoise Council by purchasing a membership or renewing your annual membership. Membership revenue helps to fund gopher tortoise conservation programs and provide grants for graduate student research and educational programs across the southeast.
Benefits include a subscription to the Gopher Tortoise Council's newsletter, "The Tortoise Burrow."
The Gopher Tortoise Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and tax-exempt organization (ID #59-2010727) and all contributions are tax deductible.
Membership Options:
$15 Student Membership
$25 Regular Membership
$40 Contributor Membership
$50 Society/Corporate Membership
$75 Sustaining Membership
$300 Lifetime Membership
Please visit our website (https://gophertortoisecouncil.org/support) for more information.
Congratulations to this year's recipients of J. Larry Landers Student Research Grants!
Eva Kerr (Master's student, U. Georgia) - Metapopulation dynamics of Gopher Frogs (Rana capito) in Georgia
Elijah McEuen (Master's student, U. South Florida) - Tortoises along Florida’s roads: pushed from unsuitable habitats or spillover from source populations?
Each student has received a $3,000 grant to implement their project.
Including these grants, GTC has awarded nearly $25,000 to deserving student researchers through this program over the last 5 years.
Ride in style and support conservation with the new Protect the Gopher Tortoise License Plate!
Hooray! 🐢📣 The time has finally come! Protect the Gopher Tortoise license plates are now available at tax collectors’ offices and tag agencies throughout Florida. We recommend calling your tax collector’s office or tag agency in advance of visiting in person to ensure that they have plates in stock.
Please read through the Frequently Asked Questions about the plate to learn how you can redeem your voucher and receive your plate!
In order to bring awareness to the plight of the gopher tortoise, Wildlands Conservation has 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! 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! Plates can be purchased at any time–you do not need to wait until your registration renewal date to order one.
