This guide to gopher tortoise-friendly plants has more information. Avoid mowing, driving, or other activities that could cause a disturbance directly around the burrow. You can trim grass or weeds around the burrow using a weed trimmer. Don’t leave pets unsupervised near burrows.

It is against the law to kill, harass, or destroy gopher tortoises; this includes their burrows and eggs. If you suspect illegal activity, you can report it anonymously to FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922, calling #FWC or *FWC on your cell phone, or texting [email protected]

Gopher tortoises are long-lived reptiles that occupy upland habitat throughout Florida including forests, pastures, and yards. They dig deep burrows for shelter and forage on low-growing plants. Both the tortoise and its burrow are protected under state law.

40 to 60 years

For permitting purposes, gopher tortoise burrows are classified as potentially occupied or abandoned. The “potentially occupied” category is further broken down into active and inactive burrows. Both active and inactive burrows are “in good repair” with a half-moon shaped entrance.

Tortoises poop every two to three days. They poop less often than other animals, pets and even us humans. This is due to their own genetic makeup and their own digestive prowess and processes. However, your tortoise may poop less frequently or more frequently than this and this could indicate a health problem.

When the tortoise urinates, it will pass the liquid urine and the semi-solid urates at the same time. It is normal and called urates (concentrated uric acid). Urates are formed by many species of tortoise (but not all species) as a consequence of protein metabolism.

A gopher tortoise will dig several burrows throughout its lifetime, with males in Florida known to dig up to 35.

Only once did I see them fighting amongst themselves; although I knew other animals compete for mates and territory, I was surprised to discover that gopher tortoises also exhibit this animal behavior. In males, tortoise fighting is known as jousting.

Adult Gopher Tortoises are large 9-15 in (24 – 38 cm) and are tan or brown above with a yellowish plastron. The juveniles can be yellowish and brightly patterned. Males have a concave plastron and longer tail than females.

Gopher tortoises rarely drink (or are rarely seen drinking) from standing water. They can use their front flipper like legs to dam-up water as it runs down their burrow during a rain. Most of the water they get comes from the food they eat.

A healthy and happy turtle should have clear eyes with no discharge. They should also not show any signs of difficulty breathing. Swollen, cloudy, or “weepy” eyes with a discharge are all common signs your turtle is sick.

Turtles will try to escape their tank due to a lot of reasons like: stress, bad diet, dirty water, bad basking area, etc. It’s normal for a turtle to try and escape a place with improper conditions, in search for a better place.

Turtles prefer to be alone, and they never welcome being picked up and handled. Because turtles aren’t affectionate, don’t like to be held, stroked or cuddled and don’t play with toys, many people lose interest and cease to take proper care of them.