A gopher tortoise emerges from its burrow (Photo via Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.)
Gopher Tortoise Relocation
Central Florida
If you’re building, clearing land, or managing property in Central Florida, gopher tortoise regulations apply. We help you handle them—legally, efficiently, and responsibly. Based in Ocala, we offer everything from surveys and permitting to relocation and compliance reporting.
We work with landowners, developers, contractors, and engineers to keep projects moving while staying within state guidelines. Our fieldwork is thorough. Our paperwork is clean. And we don’t make things more complicated than they need to be.
As a wildlife scientist and lifelong horse person, I bring over a decade of experience working with endangered species across the U.S. and beyond. I understand the balance between conservation and land use—and I’m here to help you meet both.
Chelsea E Durr, PhD
I am a wildlife scientist with over a decade of experience working with endangered species in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. I hold a Ph.D. in Wildlife Science from Purdue University, where my research focused on the foraging ecology, spatial ecology, and conservation of sea turtles. I currently serve as Executive Director of The Leatherback Trust and as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Purdue, where I advise graduate students and support collaborative research projects.
My background includes extensive expertise in Geographic Information System and satellite telemetry, which I’ve applied across fieldwork, data analysis, and species management planning. These tools are especially valuable in habitat mapping, compliance reporting, and landscape-scale conservation.
I also run 71% Consulting, where I help companies, agencies, and nonprofits make science more accessible and actionable. Now based in Ocala, Florida—where I co-run an elite horse business—I combine field-tested experience with a deep respect for working land. I help clients navigate gopher tortoise regulations, habitat planning, and land use challenges with science-based, practical solutions that protect wildlife and keep projects on track.