10/04/2026
Dear Members,
A few of our Peoria family members have had concerns regarding the gopher tortoises that have burrows adjacent to headstones in the cemetery. Peoria board members have been diligently working on this situation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. We have been meeting with a biologist dedicated to our case to assist us in relocating these tortoises to a safe and protected location.
Please understand this is a slow process. These are protected, endangered wildlife. We have been diligent in providing what is required and are now in the active phase in acquiring financial assistance from the Wildlife Conservation Commission in this undertaking.
As you are at the cemetery, we ask you to PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ANY PINK MARKING FLAGS AROUND ANY OF THE TORTOISE BURROWS AND PREVIOUS BURROW SITES. THESE FLAGS HAVE BEEN PLACED BY THE FWCC AND ARE THERE FOR GPS LOCATION INFORMATION. DO NOT DISTURB ANY OF THE BURROWS OR PLACE DIRT, STICKS, ROCKS, OR DEBRIS IN THESE AREAS. This is a critical phase in the process and we must adhere to the Commission's requests and instructions as they help us through this process.
We understand your concern for your family gravesites and we are working diligently with this team of environmental personnel. We want to be good stewards of this land we are blessed to oversee for our families, and also protect the precious wildlife that are ever losing more and more of their natural habitat due to land development.
Thank you for your help and attention in this regard.
Peoria Board of Directors
