Have you seen a gopher tortoise burrow around your neighborhood or while out for a hike? It’s almost gopher tortoise breeding season, so in the coming months you may see more gopher tortoises and burrows.
Gopher tortoises live on land, so unlike turtles they do not live in water. They have large stumpy hind legs and flat, shovel-like front legs for digging burrows. Their burrows are half moon shaped holes that lead to a 15-foot long tunnel. These burrows provide the tortoises shelter to regulate body temperature and protect them from fire. They spend 80% of their time in and around their burrow.
Adult gopher tortoises are typically 9-11 inches long and weigh 7-9 pounds, but the largest gopher tortoise on record was 33 pounds! Like most tortoises, the gopher tortoise lives a long time – around 50 years in the wild and 90 years in captivity.
Gopher tortoises are very important for the environment. Their burrows house nearly 350 other wildlife species. Without the gopher tortoise, these animals would not have anywhere to live. Unfortunately, due to habitat loss gopher tortoises are a threatened species and protected by law. It’s against the law to damage, destroy, harass, or kill the tortoises, their burrows, or their eggs. Do your part to protect these magnificent animals by following these tips.
What should you do if you see a gopher tortoise or a burrow near your house? First, leave the tortoise alone and keep dogs and children away. Don’t fence in the tortoise or block the entrance of its burrow – it’s against the law to restrict their movement. If a gopher tortoise is in the roadway, you can move it across the road in the direction it is heading. But safety first— don’t put your own safety at risk.
Never take the tortoise with you, put it in your car, or move it to another location other than the other side of the road. If you see an injured tortoise, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to find a wildlife rehabilitator near you. Often it is best to leave the sick or injured tortoise alone, as it will try to return to its burrow to heal.
Visit MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise or call UF/IFAS Extension at 321-6973000 for more information.
