Sumter County, Florida Wildlife Management Plan for a Lime Rock Mine A 250-acre lime rock mine was proposed and permitted within Sumter county, Florida. Permit conditions required issuance of all appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (FGFWFC) permits for threatened or endangered (T&E) species and Species of Special Concern (SSC) that were found on the project site. Ecological surveys on the project site revealed the presence of one family of southeastern American kestrels (Falco sparverius paulus) a state listed threatened species. A second family of southeastern American kestrels was located on an adjacent tract of land, but did utilize some of the project. The foraging habitat for both families of southeastern American Kestrels was primarily adjacent to and south of the permitted lime rock mine, but one of the southeastern American kestrel families extended onto to the southern portion of the lime rock mine. Censuses revealed the presence of numerous gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows within the lime rock mining area. Many burrows also existed outside of the mining area, as did substantial suitable habitat. One eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), a federal and state listed threatened species, was observed within the central portion of the permitted lime rock mine near active gopher tortoise burrows. Lastly Sherman's fox squirrels (Sciurus niger shermani) were observed along the outer edge of the permitted lime rock mine within mature live oak (Quercus virginiana) and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). A management plan was developed to provide suitable habitat for all four of the listed species. The primary focus was to provide substantial foraging habitat and protect the nest site of the southeaster American Kestrels. Habitat management plan included prescribe burning and replacement of kestrel nesting boxes was prepared. The primary focus was habitat preservation and management. One management area could serve as habitat for all four species because of the overlap in habitat utilization by the four listed species. A gopher tortoise relocation permit was obtained in order to remove the tortoises from the permitted lime rock mine area and move them to the management area and other undeveloped sites. The management plan should provide for long term viable habitat to serve the needs of all four listed species. An adjacent property had established numerous buffers and Conservation Areas (CA) that connected to the management area on the lime rock mine site. The combined management area of the lime rock mine site and the adjacent areas produced a substantial CA.