A gopher tortoise emerges from its burrow (Photo via Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.)
Gopher Tortoise Expertise
Central Florida
If you're buying, selling, or developing land in Central Florida, gopher tortoise regulations can stop your project, delay closing, or trigger fines if handled incorrectly.
We handle that for you from start to finish.
Based in Ocala, we provide surveys, permitting, relocation, and compliance documentation so you can move forward without delays or surprises.
As a wildlife scientist and certified gopher tortoise agent, I can legally sign off on projects which means you don’t need to coordinate multiple consultants or risk something being done wrong.
We work with:
Realtors
Developers
Landowners
Contractors
Engineers
Our role is simple: keep your deal or project moving while staying fully compliant.
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.