Our Tortoise Preserve Sites Explained

 

One is to acquire the land directly through donations. With that method we are also responsible to take the land all the way through the site preparation and tortoise recipient site permitting process with the FWC. This method gives us complete control in the land preparation process and typically provides us higher tortoise capacity levels per acre. This is obviously the most beneficial method as it provides the opportunity to maximize the number of tortoises we can all rescue.

The second method is by the generosity of land owners who are looking to provide a legacy from their family to the Earth we live on and the over 350 species that benefit from us protecting the gopher tortoise species. These land donations also provide these land owners with the incredible tax benefit of donating their valuable land to The Tortoise Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This second method of acquisition in most cases also gives TTC complete control of the land preparation and the ability to maximize the number of tortoises we can serve prior to permitting the site.

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The third method is to receive the honor of stewarding existing tortoise recipients sites in which the land owners also donate the land to the Conservancy. Most of the heavy lifting has already been done on these sites as they come to us already fully stocked with gopher tortoises awaiting our care.  This form of land donation is greatly appreciated by the Conservancy as well and is still eligible for charitable gift tax benefits.