Shell-ebrating the Gopher Tortoise

In Florida’s pine sand hills, coastal dune areas, and even urban lots, the increasingly rare gopher tortoise makes its home. Florida’s only native tortoise species has been on the planet for 60 million years and can be found in all 67 Florida counties.

Gopher Tortoise. Photo by Hannah Boardman

April 10 is Gopher Tortoise Day, a time to celebrate one of Florida’s most fascinating keystone species and to raise awareness about the efforts to protect them. These ancient reptiles have been roaming Florida’s landscapes for millions of years, playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of our ecosystems. Today, with habitat loss and urbanization threatening their survival, conservation efforts are more important than ever. 

We believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for conservation. As part of our efforts to educate the public about these wonderful creatures, FWF developed educational signs to broaden awareness and ensure safe interaction with them. Two different informative signs were created with information about the tortoises in upland and coastal habitats.

With your support, the Federation makes them available to public agencies and nonprofits to be posted in natural areas like state and county parks, forests, beaches, or nature preserves. Many of these partners also provide educational programs about the gopher tortoise and other keystone species. If you’d like to support our educational efforts, consider making a donation today to help us continue installing signs and advocating for gopher tortoise conservation. 

Gopher tortoises are known as keystone species because their burrows provide shelter for over 350 other species, including the threatened Eastern indigo snake, burrowing owls, and Florida mice. These burrows help regulate temperature and provide protection from predators and extreme weather, making them vital to Florida’s ecosystems. 

Unfortunately, gopher tortoise populations are under threat due to habitat destruction, road mortality, and development. Protecting them also means protecting countless other species that rely on their burrows for survival. 

1. Longevity – Gopher tortoises are long-lived creatures, with lifespans that can exceed 60 years in the wild. 
2. Excellent Diggers – Gopher tortoises are adept at digging burrows. Their burrows can be up to 40 feet long and 10 feet deep, providing protection from predators and extreme temperatures. 
3. Thermoregulation – They are ectothermic, meaning they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. Their burrows provide a stable environment, helping them survive in both hot and cold climates. 
4. Mating Rituals – During the breeding season, male gopher tortoises engage in aggressive behaviors to establish dominance and access to females. This can include head bobbing, ramming, and flipping other males onto their backs. 
5. Critical Role in Ecosystems – Beyond providing shelter for other species, gopher tortoises help maintain the health of their habitats through their feeding habits and burrowing activities. By aerating the soil and dispersing seeds, they contribute to the regeneration of plant communities. 

Gopher Tortoise. Photo by Mark Krancer

✅ Give them space – Never disturb a gopher tortoise or its burrow. 
✅ Slow down on the roads – Many tortoises are injured or killed by vehicle collisions. If you see a gopher tortoise trying to cross the road, you’re allowed to safely move it in the direction it was heading—this is the only time it’s legal to handle a gopher tortoise without a permit, according to FWC.
✅ Support habitat conservation – Protecting land means protecting gopher tortoises and the species that rely on them. 
✅ Educate yourself – Learn more about gopher tortoises and their role in Florida’s ecosystems here. 
✅ Donate to FWF – Your support helps us continue conservation efforts and install more educational signs. 

Help us distribute more signs and continue protecting the gopher tortoise by donating today.