Gopher tortoises are so named because of their
ability to dig large, deep burrows. These burrows are widely used by other
species throughout the ecosystem, making gopher tortoises a keystone species
with a pivotal role to play in their native community.
Whether you live in the Daytona Beach area or are just visiting, it is good to know a bit about this keystone reptile that is severely endangered.
Gopher tortoises are herbivores. They eat grasses, the flowers, fruits and
leaves of herbaceous plants and shrubs. Because they get water from plants and
dew, tortoises rarely drink water.
Gopher tortoises grow to be up to 15 inches
long and weigh from eight to 15 pounds.They can live up to 80 years in the wild. They
are slow to reach sexual maturity — at 10 to 20 years old — and have a low
reproductive rate. In the spring, gopher tortoises’ mating
season. Only about three to five percent of the young tortoises typically
survive.
The
Threatened Tortoise
Gopher tortoises are a threatened wildlife
species and are protected by state law. They must be relocated before any land
clearing or development takes place, and property owners must obtain permits
from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before they can move
them. It is against the law to kill, harass or destroy gopher tortoises, their
eggs or burrows.
The majority of the remaining gopher tortoises
are in the state of Florida where the population was estimated in 2003 to be
under 800,000, but in steep decline.
What
to know about gopher tortoises when you live near their habitats.
Gopher tortoises are commonly seen in suburban
areas around Florida. If a gopher tortoise is living in your yard, take the
opportunity to learn about this threatened species and how to conserve it. Here
are a few tips:
They generally feed within 160 feet of their
burrows.
Grow plants native to Florida in your yard,
since nonnative plants can be harmful to Florida’s biodiversity. A Florida
Guide to Gopher Tortoise Friendly Plants provides a list of tortoise-friendly
plants, many which can be found at your local native nursery.
Leave the tortoise alone and keep dogs and
children away from the tortoise and its burrow.
If possible, avoid mowing, digging, driving
over or otherwise disturbing the area right around the burrow. Trimming of
grass or weeds right around the burrow can be done using a weed trimmer.
Never block the burrow opening which could
prevent its exit or entrance.
If you find a sick or injured gopher tortoise,
you can call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's toll-free
Wildlife Alert hotline at (888)404-3922.
Conserving the gopher tortoise is important for
all of Florida’s fauna and flora.
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