FWC: Look Out For Gopher Tortoises

April 8, 2014

A gopher tortoise strolling across a road or through a backyard or field is a common sight during spring in the North Escambia area. Yet as tortoises become increasingly active this time of year, they are vulnerable to being struck by vehicles and injured or killed.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation  Commission is urging residents to look out for these slow-moving reptiles with their bony-plated shells and elephantine legs. They leave their burrows in search of green plants to eat and a tortoise to become their mate. From now through May, females will be laying eggs the size of ping-pong balls in the sandy apron outside their burrows.

FWC is also encouraging drivers to slow down on highways to help protect the state’s gopher tortoises. If a gopher tortoise is crossing the road, it is OK to pick it up and move it to safety – but keep it pointed in the direction it was heading and do not put this terrestrial animal into the water.

People also can help by downloading and using a new smartphone app to report to the FWC when and where they spot gopher tortoises. The free “Florida gopher tortoise” app recently became available on iPhone and Android. When users of the app take a photograph of a tortoise or its burrow, the photo and its GPS coordinates will be sent automatically to the FWC.

App-generated data collected by citizen scientists will help guide conservation of this threatened species. Biological information and a quiz testing the user’s knowledge of the only tortoise east of the Mississippi River also are included in the app.

Harming a gopher tortoise, its burrows or eggs is against the law.

Comments

6 Responses to “FWC: Look Out For Gopher Tortoises”

  1. Charlotte Bates on April 9th, 2014 10:26 pm

    I also have one living under my fence down at the lower part of my property. I see him or her now and then, but never attempt to disturb it. You should also never feed them, according to a web site I went too to read about them. They should never be removed, unless they are in a dangerous area. Mine’s been living here, that I know of, for the past two or three years.

  2. paul on April 9th, 2014 6:09 pm

    I have one living in a burrow near the side of my house.. It’s been there for years so I guess it likes it here :)

  3. perdido fisherman on April 8th, 2014 8:38 pm

    Good post Joe. They definetly will let loose a load. These tortise are an endangered species if i remember correctly.

  4. Joe on April 8th, 2014 5:54 pm

    Just remember when you pick up a reptile to help it across the road, almost all of them urinate and have a bowel movement as soon as they are in the air. Box turtles seem to be the exception. They can be easily identified as their shell closes around them and no part of their body is exposed.
    So remember to hold them out away from you when you pick them up.

  5. fred on April 8th, 2014 7:20 am

    @429SCJ – me too. I get a lot of smiles and “thumbs up” when I do it, no one ever gets mad or starts honking.

  6. 429SCJ on April 8th, 2014 6:11 am

    I help them across the road at every opportunity, box turtles also.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News