News Release:
Florida Celebrates Gopher Tortoise Day April 10
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Reports Today Will Be Dedicated To This Threatened Species, Which Is Found In Every County Of The State.
The gopher tortoise, Florida’s only native tortoise species, is listed as threatened after experiencing an estimated population decline of 50-70 percent in the last 100 years, mainly due to habitat loss. These ancient creatures are more active in the spring as they forage for food and search for a mate. The gopher tortoise is a land animal and is considered a keystone species because their burrows provide shelter for 360 other species of wildlife. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges people to leave them alone, except for picking one up to help it cross a road, and to never put one into water. The tortoises cannot be kept as pets, and it is illegal to disturb or harm them, their burrows, or their eggs.
On April 10, many Floridians plan to celebrate Florida Gopher Tortoise Day and support conservation of this threatened species. These long lived, gentle reptiles are found in all of Florida’s 67 counties and are frequently encountered in neighborhoods, along roadways, and in many of Florida’s public parks and forests. Visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website for a wealth of materials on co-existing with tortoises including brochures and fact sheets, kid’s activities including masks and coloring pages, the Florida Guide to Gopher Tortoise Friendly Plants, instructions on how to order a gopher tortoise crossing sign, and the Gopher Tortoise Field Trip Guide. The Florida Gopher Tortoise smartphone app lets you report gopher tortoise sightings and learn more about the species.
For the full press release and to check which communities have adopted this day, click here.