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FWC OFFICERS INVESTIGATE GOPHER TORTOISE
DEATHS
November 30, 2006
Contact: Carol Pratt (850) 488-4676
Kat Kelley (352) 732-1225
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) investigators are tracking down leads in
connection with the slaughter of at least 20 gopher tortoises in
Ocala.
FWC Officer Emily Vought said a city worker
reported finding two bags of tortoise shells Wednesday afternoon
in a wooded area in the 700 block of Northwest 14th Street. She
said gopher tortoises are land turtles, protected as a “species
of special concern” in Florida.
At the site, Vought found two big trash bags of
completely cleaned out shells.
“The incident occurred within the past couple of
weeks,” Vought said. She said she doesn’t believe the slaughter
occurred at the site where she recovered the shells.
“On occasion, gopher tortoises are sold off the
back of trucks,” Vought said. “In some circles, the reptiles are
considered a delicacy.”
Vought and Investigator Mike Fischer will be
going throughout the neighborhood where Vought found the shells
to interview possible witnesses in the case.
Anyone with information that leads to an arrest
in the case may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and may
remain anonymous. To report information about this or any other
wildlife law violation case, contact the FWC Wildlife Alert
Hotline at 1-888-404-3922. |
