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Select staff of the Species Conservation Planning Section is principally responsible for review and issuance of scientific collection, migratory bird nest removal and relocation permits that involve Florida's protected land wildlife. Issuance of these permits is intended to guide, authorize and facilitate land management, scientific and educational activities under conditions that also provide necessary safeguards and conservation benefits to protected species which otherwise could be negatively affected by those activities.

Some permits may be conditionally issued, pending implementation of an approved management plan that demonstrates the permitted activities would result in a conservation benefit for the species. Scientific permits would be conditioned upon an approved research proposal. Other permits may require adherence to species management guidelines.

Management guidelines are in place for Florida burrowing owls in urban areas, ospreys nesting on man-made structures and gopher tortoises on lands slated for development. The permit-review process usually involves coordination among Commission offices, consultants, other state agencies, federal agencies and regional and local regulatory authorities.

Timely response

Florida Statutes require state agencies to approve or deny completed applications within 90 days of receipt. This office operates on a self-imposed policy to make every effort to approve or deny complete applications within 45 days of receipt. Therefore, we ask you to submit a complete application and attach all relevant information (i.e. scientific project proposals, site plans, etc.). Completed permit applications and amendment requests should be submitted a minimum of 45 days prior to the requested effective date.

Species Conservation Planning Section
Technical Assistance and Permitting

 For assistance with the following issues:

• Endangered/protected terrestrial species and development
• Bald eagle and timber harvest
• Florida’s listing process for wildlife
• Section 6 Grant administration
• Gopher tortoise relocation
• Gopher tortoise URTD testing
• Terrestrial (non-marine) wildlife scientific collecting (i.e. bird-banding, voucher, salvage, possession, special-purpose)
• Nonresident falconry permits
• Other projects/activities that impact endangered, threatened or species of special concern
• Migratory bird, burrowing owl and/or osprey nest removal
• Avitrol permits

Contact us at:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Species Conservation Planning Section
620 South Meridian Street , Mail Station 2A
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
850-921-5990, ext. 17310

Additional Regional Assistance

Regional species conservation biologists are available to provide technical assistance on assorted listed non-marine wildlife issues. Contact the regional biologist for your area to discuss wildlife scientific collecting, ecology and nuisance issues.

Some situations may require both biological technical assistance and permit assistance. We ask that you contact the Tallahassee office regarding issuance of required permits early in the application process, while seeking technical assistance from the regional office.

Gopher Tortoise Incidental Take & Standard Relocation Permits

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Habitat and Species Conservation
Attn: Rick McCann
620 South Meridian Street, MS 2A
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
850-410-0656, ext. 17327

Marine Turtle Permit Application

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Imperiled Species Management Section (Tequesta Field Office)
Post Office Box 3478
Tequesta, FL 33469
561-575-5407

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