KEEP WILDLIFE, NATIVE PLANTS-TREES IN THEIR HOMES

HELP neighborhood GOPHER TORTOISES, FLORIDA SCRUB-JAYS and OTHER WILDLIFE STAY IN THEIR HOMES HELP GOPHER TORTOISES, FLORIDA SCRUB-JAYS and OTHER WILDLIFE STAY IN THEIR HOMES!

DONATE TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVANCY OF NORTH PORT AND SURROUNDING AREAS PURCHASE AND PROTECT 4 HARBOUR HEIGHTS (Charlotte County) PARCELS FOR A TOTAL OF $17,050! The deadline to raise the funds is December 26, 2023.

These parcels are providing homes, food sources and places to raise young for Gopher Tortoises, Florida scrub-jays and other wildlife. They also host an abundance of Florida native plants and trees.

WHERE: Lots 17 and 18, Middle Terrace ($8,775.00)

Lots 20 and 21, Dumont Drive ($8,275.00)

Harbour Heights (Charlotte County) FL

HOW: Donations can be made:

Via GoFundMe https://gofund.me/6293d602

Via Venmo: Environmental Conservancy NP- @NPconservancy (if using Venmo please note "Harbour Heights” on your donation).

Via PayPal on our website www.ecnorthport.com (please note that your donation is for Harbour Heights).

Checks are also accepted, please make checks payable to The Environmental Conservancy of North Port, Inc. and mail to 3465 Alfred Road, North Port, FL 34286. Please note “Harbour Heights” in the memo section.

WHAT:

LOTS 17 and 18, MIDDLE TERRACE (Parcel ID 402315134012):

3 Florida Scrub-jays have been documented on the Middle Road parcels, and at least 2 active Gopher Tortoise burrows were found (one adult, one juvenile); likely more will be confirmed active with trail camera installation.

Important wildlife vegetation of note: Low palmetto with lots of open sand; Lyonia; Open sandy area (a Scrub-jay favorite) with a lot of small Blueberry bushes; Several scrub oaks.

2 Florida Scrub-jays

Middle Terrace

3rd Scrub-jay

Gopher Tortoise burrow 1

Gopher Tortoise burrow 2

Middle Terrace map

AND

Lots 20 and 21, DUMONT DRIVE (Parcel ID 402316287007):

This parcel is in a documented Florida Scrub-jay zone.

Dumont Drive

Dumont Drive map

WHY:

Harbour Heights hosts a population of the Florida Scrub-jay, a federally threatened species that is rapidly losing habitat as our area's human population continues to grow.

While Charlotte County has its very own Scrub-jay Habitat Conservation Plan which requires builders to pay designated fees to clear lots in Scrub-jay zones County-wide, those fees are then used to buy land only in the Eastern part of the County to protect Scrub-jay habitat where the birds also live. It is not spent in Harbour Heights.

As a result, as development continues, Harbour Heights neighborhood natural habitat for the Scrub-jays is being slowly erased, to their detriment. Our land acquisitions provide “stepping stone” habitat pockets in Scrub-jay neighborhoods which is the best way to help ensure they, and other wildlife, will always have a place to call home in Harbour Heights.

Gopher tortoises live in Harbour Heights too. They are long-lived reptiles that dig deep burrows for shelter and forage on low-growing plants. They can share their burrows with more than 350 other species, and are therefore referred to as a keystone species. Under State law Gopher Tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place, and property owners must obtain permits from the FWC before capturing and relocating tortoises. In the majority of cases, the tortoises are taken to other land parcels miles away known as “relocation sites”. Tortoises have a natural “homing device” and will attempt to escape the relocation site for extended periods of time. Some will become depressed; many will eventually fail to thrive. On average currently, the cost of removing 1 tortoise from a neighborhood land parcel is $7,200.

Further, upon completion of a residence, few to no local native plants that once grew on the lot are replanted, and even if a local native tree is replanted (live oak, slash pine, sabal palm, scrub oak) it is common that those trees will not survive and grow to maturity. Replanting native trees/plants is something we always recommend, but replanting can never take place of conservation of an untouched natural environment.

Conserving natural land in our neighborhoods allows for the preservation/protection of, education about, and co-existence with, our local native flora and fauna and tree canopy.

Conservation of natural land amidst residential development preserves wildlife habitat, threatened and/or endangered species and biodiversity; maintains scenic landscape for people; helps reduce flooding; helps filter water/improve water quality; and maintains the tree canopy and native vegetation that serve as filters for our air. Conserving land increases property values near these greenspaces too.

In conclusion, we believe greenspace in our neighborhoods benefits nature and humans alike!

WHO: We are a 501c3 non-profit entity focused on acquiring and permanently conserving undeveloped natural land parcels in neighborhoods of North Port and its Surrounding Areas (Sarasota and Charlotte Counties) to provide greenspace for wildlife/native plants/native trees [aka nature] to continue thriving upon as it has for decades while our population continues to grow at a rapid pace.

QUESTIONS? Contact us at [phone redacted] or [email redacted] or visit our website at www.ecnorthport.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/ecnorthport or Instagram www.instagram.com/npconservancy

Tax ID Number 84-4132468