Manatee County is aiding a threatened species in the state by re-homing hundreds of gopher tortoises. The county emphasizes the need for this refuge due to increased development and insufficient re-homing sites for the animals.
Land creatures like the gopher tortoise are more than just part of the job for Kathleen Barrett — she considers the reptile like family.
“That’s Genbu,” she said of one tortoise. “Take a look at its nails. That’s the way they burrow.”
Barrett is the ecological program manager for the Natural Resources Department in Manatee County, and has spent years researching tortoises.
“Look at the track marks,” she said. “This is a gopher tortoise burrow, as you can tell by the shape of it. It’s shaped like a tortoise shell.”
Barrett said the burrows play an important role in the ecosystem, serving as homes to hundreds of different wildlife species. Her work with animals has been something she has been interested in since she was a child.
“Haha, when I was 2, probably,” Barrett said. “I grew up in Pennsylvania catching lightning bugs, honeybees, frogs, and crayfish. I think I had about every animal on the planet.”
Barrett said a recent project, the Gopher Tortoise Resort, is one of her career highlights.
“Oh, it’s absolutely like one of the best things I’ve done,” she said. “We are going to get thousands of species here that are protected. It’s like an absolute refuge.”
Manatee County plans to re-home more than 800 gopher tortoises on 4,500 acres in Duette Preserve, an environment Barrett deems perfect for the tortoises.
The species is threatened in Florida, and the county’s goal is to provide more shelter.
“The best thing for them is that they are safe and protected from any kind of development for as long as we can think of,” she said.
She said tortoises found within a 50-75 mile range will be brought to the preserve. For example, if a developer finds gopher tortoises during their wildlife survey, they can bring them to Duette Preserve.
“If they can make it a sustainable population, it will help them in this region a lot,” Barrett said. “It’s a win-win for the tortoises.”
Barrett said it’s also a win for her to know these reptiles have a place to call their forever home.
Julia Hazel
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