Bear Environmental Consulting

12/12/2024

The giveaway starts tonight! If you haven’t entered already, follow the instructions in the post before it’s too late!

12/01/2024

Excited to be participating again this year in the small business 12 days of Christmas giveaway!

11/21/2024

At Bear Environmental Consulting, we tackle your projects and permits—even if it means carrying a little extra weight on our shoulders!

11/09/2024

Hooray! 📢🐢

We have officially reached 3,000 pre-sale voucher sign ups for the new Protect the Gopher Tortoise License plate!

Now that we’ve reached this milestone, we are submitting the pre-sale data to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) for production. Please be aware that the manufacturing process may take approximately 6 months before your specialty plates will be available at your local DMV.

Once the license plates are ready, you will receive notification from us with instructions on how to exchange your current plate for your newly-approved Protect the Gopher Tortoise specialty license plate.

We would like to thank each and everyone of you that has waited patiently during this pre-sale period, signed up for a voucher or helped spread the word about this initiative. It would not have been possible without you!

Stay tuned for more information.

10/30/2024

10/27/2024

Come check out the Fenix Hair Co. grand opening Trunk or Treat! We will be handing out treats (and tricks!) until 4.

08/23/2024

UPDATE: Meetings have been postponed and are expected to be rescheduled for the week of September 2nd.

On Tuesday, August 27th, at 3:00 PM, public meetings regarding the proposed amendments to the management plans of our Florida State Parks will be held across the state—all at the same time.

Please refer to the image we’ve provided for a list of all meeting locations. If you can, we strongly encourage you to attend the meeting nearest you. We will be attending the meeting at Honeymoon Island State Park, and we hope to see many of you there!

Even if you’re unable to attend, you still have a chance to make your voice heard! We have up to 48 hours after the meetings conclude to submit comments via email.

Below, you’ll find the email addresses designated for receiving comments, as well as direct links to each meeting. These links will also allow you to review the meeting agendas and the proposed plans for our beautiful parks.

Honey moon Island State Park:
[email protected]
https://floridadep.gov/parks/parks-office-park-planning/content/41004-honeymoon-island-state-park-public-meeting
Hillsborough River State Park:
[email protected]
https://floridadep.gov/parks/parks-office-park-planning/content/41002-hillsborough-river-state-park-public-meeting
Oleta River State Park:
[email protected]
https://floridadep.gov/parks/parks-office-park-planning/content/41003-oleta-river-state-park-public-meeting
Jonathan Dickinson State park:
[email protected]
https://floridadep.gov/parks/parks-office-park-planning/content/40999-jonathan-dickinson-state-park-public-meeting
Dr. Von Mizzel-Eula Johnson State Park:
[email protected]
https://floridadep.gov/parks/parks-office-park-planning/content/41001-dr-von-d-mizell-eula-johnson-state-park-public
Anastasia State Park:
[email protected]
https://floridadep.gov/parks/parks-office-park-planning/content/41005-anastasia-state-park-public-meeting
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Grayton Beach State Park:
[email protected]
https://floridadep.gov/parks/parks-office-park-planning/content/41000-topsail-hill-preserve-and-grayton-beach-state-parks
Camp Helen State Park:
[email protected]
https://floridadep.gov/parks/parks-office-park-planning/content/40998-camp-helen-state-park-public-meeting-notice

08/22/2024

The mission of the Florida Park Service is clear: "To provide resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting, and restoring natural and cultural resources." Yet, the proposal to introduce golf courses, pickleball courts, lodges, and other developments into nine of our cherished state parks directly threatens this mission.

Florida is being developed at an alarming rate—approximately 120 acres are lost to development every day. Now, even our protected lands are at risk. What will be left for future generations if we allow this unchecked growth to continue?

We must act now to safeguard our state parks. Please take a moment to sign the petition and make your voice heard. Also, consider attending one of the park meetings next Tuesday to stand up for our natural heritage.

Our parks need your help—don’t let them be lost to development.

https://floridawildlifefederation.org/action-state-parks-threat/?fbclid=IwY2xjawE0MwxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZ2eCRJvR6qUZIySWApDvWzWp0YOmjd9eGzpfMtN4fK7Ifx-iB3lQiMHfQ_aem_0iUULBrEt6et2RJ0iznM6A

08/14/2024

📢 Important Update on Gopher Tortoise Permits! 📢

We want to inform our clients and followers about the recent increase in mitigation contributions for gopher tortoise permits. These changes are effective immediately and impact several permits that we frequently handle.

Key Permits Affected:

1. 10 or Fewer Burrows Permit:

2022 Rate: $234
2024 Rate: $266

2. Conservation Permit (>10 Burrows Relocated to Public Conservation Lands or Contiguous Public Conservation Land):

2022 Rate:
First 10 Burrows: $234
Each Additional Tortoise: $351

2024 Rate:
First 10 Burrows: $266
Each Additional Tortoise: $398

3. Disturbed Site Permit:

2022 Rate: $5,000 per tortoise
2024 Rate: $5,311 per tortoise

These updates reflect the latest rates adjusted for 2024 to support ongoing conservation efforts. Please review your current permits and budgets to accommodate these changes. If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to contact us.

Check out the links below for more information on current pricing!

https://bearenvfl.com/gopher-tortoise-services/

https://myfwc.com/license/wildlife/gopher-tortoise-permits/mitigation/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q_fbUNG2RNckK6y-M8ciHNs6cjiAzdHFwkZYjxMuvp4/edit?usp=sharing

07/10/2024

Help conserve Gopher Tortoises by reserving your license plate today!

06/29/2024

Citrus, effective Monday, July 1, new requirements and penalties will apply to harvesters and those who buy, transport, and process saw palmetto berries in Florida.

𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨:
- Saw palmetto berries may only be harvested from private property with prior written landowner permission, and those harvesting must first have:
- Written permission from the landowner, and
- A permit from FDACS as provided in s. 581.185, Florida Statues.
- Written landowner permission must include:
- Name, address, and telephone number of the landowner
- Start date, end date, and location, including county, of the harvest
- The landowner's actual or electronic signature

Unauthorized harvest of saw palmetto berries from state public lands is not allowed. That means it is illegal to harvest from Florida state forests, state park lands, wildlife management areas, water management district lands, or any other category of public land unless authorized by the agency that administers the land.

𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬:
- Harvesting without a permit or written landowner's permission is a felony of the third degree, punishable by up to five years in state prison.

- Anyone who presents a false, forged, or altered document purporting to be the landowner's written permission to harvest commits a felony of the third degree punishable by up to five years in state prison.

𝘽𝙪𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙨:
Are NOT REQUIRED to have a permit. However, when you purchase saw palmetto berries from a harvester,𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 from the date the harvest ends:
- A bill of lading for the berries
- A copy of the harvester's entire permit
- A scan or photocopy of the harvester's valid government photo I.D.
- A copy of the landowner's written permission to harvest, including:
- Seller's name, address, and telephone number.
- Date or dates of harvesting.
- Weight, quantity, or volume and description of the type of saw palmetto
berries harvested.

𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬:
- A dealer, buyer, or processor who buys or possesses unlawfully harvested saw palmetto berries commits a felony of the third degree punishable by up to five years in state prison.

- A dealer, buyer, or processor of saw palmetto berries who fails to maintain a copy of the harvester's permit, copy of written landowner permission, and copy of the harvester's valid government photo ID commits a misdemeanor of the first degree punishable by up to one year in county jail.


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