Gopher Tortoise
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The gopher tortoise is one of five North American tortoise species and is the only tortoise naturally found east of the Mississippi River in coastal scrub and pine flatwood habitats of the southeast United States.
The gopher tortoise is considered a “keystone” species because its burrows provide benefits to more than 350 other species.
In all their inhabiting southeastern states, the gopher tortoise is considered endangered or threatened. In Florida, it is listed as “threatened”.
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Gopher Tortoise
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To get a chance to possibly see this 9-15″ (23-38 cm) dry-land turtle, we traveled not far to Rena Point. With perfect conditions for the gopher tortoise, roadside rescues are brought to this enclosed, protected area that were not able to be returned to the wild.
We explored the area and trail for about an hour with no sightings and returned to the parking lot. And this is where we found this gopher tortoise doing a little foraging not too far from our car. 😏
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Gopher Tortoise
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Gopher Tortoise
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More information on the gopher tortoise posted at Rena Point, if you’re interested!
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Really enjoyed learning ab0ut the gopher tortoise… Thanks so much!
You’re quite welcome, Carol! I’m learning along with everyone too. 🙂
Fascinating! 🤔
Thanks!
Great shots! How funny that you found him at the very end of your search.
Thank you, Susan! Yea, go figure, lol. 😉
An exciting find and Interesting reading!
Thank you, Belinda!
Looks like a very healthy tortoise. Nice shots, Donna. Great info too. 🙂
Thank you, HJ! This gal/fella has got the best protection now from the small preserve’s park management. So nice to see it does look healthy! 🙂
Very interesting and wonderful images, Donna.
Thanks Deborah!
Nice series of images Donna! Plus I learned something!
Thank you, Reed! I’m learning along with everyone too! 🙂
Tortoises look so ancient and wise. Sad that these are threatened. I loved seeing his armor plating, so prehistoric looking!
Thank you, Eliza, he certainly does look prehistoric! I did get an open mouth shot but it was a bit blurred, they have several rows of tiny teeth. 😲 I was glad to see it healthy looking.
I love the turtles/tortoises. *squeal*
Me too!! 😍
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Great pictures of this gopher and thanks for the info about this beautful creature.
Thank you, Rudi!
Love these shots and the information! Back in 2012 our son and daughter-in-law took us to see the “turtles” living in the dunes on Amelia Beach in Florida. Thanks to your post I now know they were actually gopher tortoises. We were enchanted and enjoyed watching them go about their business for well over an hour. Your captures are beautiful!
Thank you, Barbara! How cool is that, so glad you’ve seen these prehistoric creatures! The coastal sand dunes are perfect habitat for these turtles to dig their burrows. 😊
Great seeing these Tortoise! I miss them!
So glad to share them with you Eddie, they are pretty special to our ecosystem. 🙂
Wonderful pictures and great info, Donna!
Thank you, Indira!
These keystone species are so interesting, showing how interconnected everything is, more than we could imagine. Thanks for sharing this. My Mum once had two tortoises living in her garden, who then had babies, it was lovely!
Thank you, Sel! How wonderful to get a daily inside peek on a family or tortoises in your Mum’s garden, I’d love it too!
Looks quite similar to the desert tortoise of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Very pleasant creatures!