October Coffee & Conservation – Featuring Carol McCoy

We’re excited to welcome back Carol McCoy of the Coastal Wildlife Club for our October Coffee & Conservation session! Carol will be sharing her expertise on gopher tortoise. Florida’s fascinating keystone species and learn about the ways we can help conserve their habitat and future.

About the Speaker Carol McCoy serves as a Director on the Board of Coastal Wildlife Club, Inc. (CWC), a volunteer nonprofit organization that monitors sea turtle nesting beaches on Manasota Key and Don Pedro/Knight/Palm Island. As the principal marine turtle permit holder for Don Pedro Island, she manages the nesting beach program there. After a career in Information Technology, Carol and her husband moved to Englewood in 2016, where she pursued her dream of full-time conservation volunteer work. She manages CWC’s communications and social media, coordinates the Nesting APP among patrollers and state agency staff, and initiated the CWC Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program six years ago. As part of the Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN), Carol responds to most stranding incidents from Punta Gorda to Englewood. She also enjoys providing educational programs at schools, clubs, and community events. Carol travels extensively to experience different cultures and often visits turtle-related sites. She enjoys sharing Florida’s unique ecosystems and wildlife with others as a UF/IFAS Advanced Florida Master Naturalist. 

Program: The Gopher Tortoise – A Species in Decline This month’s presentation will spotlight the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), a keystone species currently facing a significant decline due to habitat loss, human encroachment, and environmental changes. Native to the southeastern United States, this tortoise relies on sandy soils for burrowing—shelters that also provide refuge for over 350 other species. Urban development, agriculture, and road construction have fragmented its natural habitat, leading to population decreases. Conservation efforts are essential to protect the gopher tortoise and the diverse ecosystems it supports. Attendees will learn about the gopher tortoise—an icon of the uplands—its threats, current conservation initiatives, and ways community members can help safeguard its future.

Carol’s dedication to protecting turtles and gopher tortoises inspires us all to take action in our own backyards. This session is a chance to learn more about these gentle reptiles and discover practical ways to support their conservation.

☕ Come for the coffee, stay for the conservation.
💚 All donations from this event will directly support The Gopher Tortoise Council.