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HELP permanently protect a Port Charlotte Gopher Tortoise colony and their burrows that provide homes for other wildlife, along with native plants and trees, by contributing to this $13,000 fundraiser!
ABOUT US: The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. doing business as the Neighborhood Land Conservancy is a 501c3 nonprofit neighborhood land conservancy operating in Charlotte and Sarasota Counties. To date we have acquired and permanently protected 57 parcels of neighborhood land since we began our mission work in early 2020. We began operating under the doing-business-as-name the "Neighborhood Land Conservancy" on January 1, 2026 to make our mission clearer to the public. Confirmation of our corporate and doing-business-as names can be done here: https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/search/Learn more about us at www.neighborhood-land.org.
THE PARCEL: Lot 49, Fairmont Terrace, Port Charlotte (Charlotte County). Multiple burrows have been identified here (at least 20) varying in size from juvenile to adult. We estimate at least half are tortoise-inhabited if not more upon initial inspection.
There are 2 burrows in this photo, the tortoise on the right is out getting some morning sun!
Another tortoise, munching on some native grapevine for breakfast.
Yet another tortoise loving the morning light!
The sun wasn't shining on this burrow's front door yet, but by the looks of the tracks in the apron, it is more than likely occupied.
HOW TO PROTECT THIS COLONY: Raise $13,000 by March 31, 2026. The actual purchase price is $16,000; the $3,000 difference is being funded by proceeds from our 5K Race to Conserve held on February 28th at Ann & Chuck Dever Environmental Park in Englewood. Thank you to all who participated in this event, you are all now a part of the team for this land acquisition goal!
WHERE TO DONATE: Donate via this GoFundMe or via:
Paypal using the “Donate Today” button on the Home Page of our website: https://neighborhood-land.org/
Venmo: Environmental Conservancy NP @NPconservancy (under our old doing business name but still us)
Check: Make your check payable to The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. (our legal corporate name) and mail to 3465 Alfred Road, North Port, FL 34286.
THE PARCEL: Lot 49, Fairmont Terrace, Port Charlotte (Charlotte County). Multiple burrows have been identified here (at least 20) varying in size from juvenile to adult. We estimate at least half are tortoise-inhabited if not more upon initial inspection.
In addition, this parcel is on a freshwater waterway; owning a parcel on freshwater would be something new for us! The seller has lived next door to the parcel since 1989 and finally was able to acquire it in 2021 for conservation purposes. She is now moving away from Port Charlotte and wishes to sell to us to continue out her conservation goal in perpetuity.
The seller has also documented freshwater turtles nesting on the waterway bank, bobcats passing through often (most recently a parent and two cubs), and a pair of otters have nested under her shed multiple times over the years. She has witnessed the Gopher Tortoise colony grow since 1989 and confirmed an abundance of other wildlife use the parcel (rabbits, snakes, raccoons and more).
Gopher tortoises are long-lived reptiles that dig deep burrows for shelter and forage on low-growing plants. They can share their burrows with more than 350 other species and are therefore referred to as a keystone species. Under State law Gopher Tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place, and property owners must obtain permits from the FWC before capturing and relocating tortoises. In the majority of cases, the tortoises are taken to other land parcels miles away known as “relocation sites”. Tortoises have a natural “homing device” and will attempt to escape the relocation site for extended periods of time. Some will become depressed; many will eventually fail to thrive. For these reasons and more, keeping Gopher Tortoises in their homes is one of our mission priorities.
Further, upon completion of a new residence, few to no local native plants that once grew on the parcel are replanted, and even if a local native tree is replanted (live oak, slash pine, sabal palm, scrub oak) it is common that those trees will not survive and grow to maturity. Replanting native trees/plants is something we always recommend, but replanting can never take place of conservation of an untouched natural environment.
Conservation of natural land amidst residential development preserves “stepping stones” of wildlife habitat, maintains nature’s biodiversity and scenic landscape for people; helps reduce flooding; helps filter water/improve water quality; and maintains the tree canopy and native vegetation that serve as filters for our air. Conserving land increases property values near these greenspaces too.
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Visit our website at www.neighborhood-land.org
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Tax ID Number 84-4132468
Organizer
The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc.
Beneficiary