A Tortoise Tale

 

One day, I saw a gopher tortoise trying to cross the road in my neighborhood. Moving very slowly, I worried someone might run it over. So, I parked my car to the side of the road, got out and picked it up and very carefully moved Mr. or Ms. Tortoise (not sure which; I didn't have time to check) to the other side of the road where it was headed.
                                                                                                                                                           

These gentle creatures have been wandering around the upland forests, sandhills and coastal dunes for thousands of years! Even though this quiet, dry land neighbor can live for about 80 years in the wild, particularly enjoying the coastal dunes in this area, their

numbers are on the decline. Unfortunately, gopher tortoises are listed as threatened in Florida and are protected by state law. In some surrounding states they are federally protected as well.

The GTM Research Reserve (location of the estuary I talk about) is home to a variety of habitat. One being the beloved gopher tortoise or the scientific name, Gopherus Polyphemus. If you have been here or ever had the opportunity to visit, you may spot one crossing a trail, the highway to get to the other side of the dunes, or you might even spot one crossing the road in your neighborhood, or possibly in your backyard.                                                                                                                        

Gopher burrow

Gopher tortoises get their name from their ability to dig large, deep burrows - some up to 10 feet deep and 40 feet long. They have specialized shovel-like front legs that help them dig, with strong and sturdy back legs.

The gopher tortoise's burrows are widely used by other species throughout the ecosystem, helping them play a pivotal role in their native community. These burrows are like subterranean villages, providing a home for more than 350 different species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and even birds! These animals depend on the burrows for survival, using them for shelter from predators, and as temporary refuge from fires, which are a natural part of the landscape in upland ecosystems. Many of the species that use gopher tortoise burrows are the Eastern indigo snake, burrowing owl, Florida mouse, armadillos and gopher frog.

By the way, do you know the difference between a gopher tortoise and a sea turtle? Well, tortoises are usually land animals, 9 to 11 inches in length and have toes with claws on each toe, while sea turtles have flippers with only one or two claws present on each fore-flipper. The tortoise's strong forelimbs dig burrows, and sea turtles are primarily marine creatures with feet adapted to swimming. The gopher tortoise makes its home in dry, sandy dunes, while fully grown sea turtles are much larger, as much as six feet and live in the ocean.

Here's a video on how you can help protect the gopher tortoise. By the way, it is illegal to harass or harm them or their burrows.

 

Hopefully, Mr. or Ms. Tortoise made it safely to an area in my neighborhood, dug a deep burrow and is living happily ever after!