Learn all about Gopher Tortoise Rescue, Relocation & More with Carissa Kent!

Carissa Kent has been involved in gopher tortoise rescue relocation efforts since 2006 when she started a project in collaboration with HSUS to save tortoises off of sites that had permits to bury them.

Carissa completed the Ashton Biodiversity Institute gopher tortoise relocation training and has assisted Nokuse Plantation and The Humane Society of the United States in the rescue and relocation of almost 5,000 gopher tortoises and thousands of commensal species from incidental-take permitted sites. She works closely with FWC, developers, environmental consultants, non-profits and citizens in outreach, permitting, field operations, rescue, transport, data collection, and release.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/0/2/1/600_435328705.jpeg

She is a caretaker for the Seminole County Natural Lands program where she helps maintain the Econ River Wilderness Area and monitors gopher tortoise populations on-site. She also served on the board of Keep Seminole Beautiful from 2008-2012 and was elected President. She has volunteered with Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge since 2004 and served on their Executive Board of Directors until December 2013, including being their Director of Marketing/Fundraising/Grants. She works with the full spectrum of tortoises issues including injured tortoises, waifs, rescue relocation projects, citizen concerns, backyard tortoise habitats, EcoCamps, education and conservation and FWC Law Enforcement situations.

*****

Every 2nd Wednesday, Dandelion Communitea Cafe hosts Green Drinks. Green Drinks where you can eat, drink, talk and learn about the issues concerning our environment and our community.