Arrest warrants issued for disturbing gopher tortise in Nassau County

​According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report for Oct. 6-12, two men were issued arrest warrants as a result of disturbing a gopher tortise, one of Florida's several threatened species.

The official report is below:

While patrolling Nassau County, Officer Martin responded to a gopher tortoise complaint on an active construction site where a new home was being built. She arrived on the scene to see an active construction site on top of what was believed to be a gopher tortoise burrow.

Officer Martin's investigation revealed an active burrow and the site did not have the proper permitting despite knowledge of the active burrow. Additionally, the officer determined a construction worker had blocked the active burrow and physically moved a gopher tortoise off the site.

Officer Martin was able to get an arrest warrant signed for the site manager for not having the proper permits and an additional arrest warrant signed for the construction worker who physically removed the gopher tortoise from the construction site.