In cooperation with Preserving the Environment through Ecological Research (PEER), Heinrich Ecological Services recently completed a year-long vertebrate survey at Cypress Lakes Preserve (Ridge Manor, Florida) for the Hernando County Planning Department. This 324 acre, ecologically diverse preserve is located on the Withlacoochee River and supports populations of several listed species, including Florida gopher frog (Rana capito aesopus), gopher tortoise (G. polyphemus), eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), wood stork (Mycteria americana), sandhill crane (Grus canadensis), southern bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus), and Florida mouse (Podomys floridanus). Species lists and information on habitat use generated by this study will assist in the ecologically sound management of this environmentally sensitive land.

Hidden Waters Preserve (Eustis, Florida) is one of several preserves owned and managed by the Lake County Water Authority. Located in a county experiencing intense human population growth and development, this 90 acre natural area supports a sizeable population of gopher tortoises (G. polyphemus). A recent gopher tortoise burrow survey conducted by Heinrich Ecological Services provided land managers with information that will benefit this state listed species of special concern.

Diamondback terrapins (M. terrapin) live in brackish coastal habitat and mortality in crab pots is one of their greatest threats. George L. Heinrich has studied the ecology and conservation needs of diamondback terrapins as part of a University of North Florida (UNF) research team since 1995. Recent research has focused on testing the effectiveness of a bycatch reduction device (BRD) on crab pots in Florida. Preliminary results found that 73.2% of the terrapins in this study could have been prevented from entering crab pots with functional BRDs. It is hoped that this study will result in the adoption of new regulations by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission requiring the use of a simple wire device (45.0 x 120.0 mm) on all commercial and recreational crab pots used in the state of Florida. This work has been supported by grants from the Florida Sea Grant College Program, Pinellas County Environmental Fund and the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program.

Human predation of turtles, including marine species, gopher tortoise (G. polyphemus), diamondback terrapin (M. terrapin), alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), and Suwannee cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis), has a long history in Florida. A May 2004 discovery of a Suwannee cooter dump site in Cedar Key, Florida by George L. Heinrich and Dr. Joseph A. Butler (University of North Florida) confirmed continued exploitation of this state listed species of special concern. As part of a cooperative project, the Chelonian Research Institute and Heinrich Ecological Services have collected and preserved over 160 carcasses from this site. It is hoped that this discovery will generate increased protection for this threatened riverine species.