If you love turtles,
you should know something about the gopher turtle. Although it is often called a turtle,
it is strictly really a tortoise. This means it lives mainly on land
and has feet that are not webbed. It also generally has rounder shells than
other turtles.
It is important to know about gopher turtles not because
they make great pets. You should know more about them
because they are on the endangered list. It is therefore illegal to pick up, sell,
transport or privately care for gopher tortoises. Their endangered status is significant because
they are the single species of tortoises that carry the distinction of originating in
the US.
If you see a gopher turtle, you should avoid touching it.
If you cannot tell the difference between turtles and tortoises, you could make the mistake of
returning it to the water where it could die. Touching some of these tortoises could
also distress them enough to kill them slowly. If you see a stray
gopher tortoise, you should make your discovery known to the proper wildlife agencies for
proper action.
You would know a gopher turtle when you see one. Its size ranges from
9 to 15 inches. Unlike turtles, it has a carapace, or top shell, that curves
downward. The top of the dome however is flat. Adults have brown or
dark shells while younger ones may have lighter shells. Its plastron, or underside, is
colored yellow.
One other distinctive feature of these tortoises is its
legs. It has large back legs. Its front legs are
smaller but are stubby. This makes them perfect for walking on land and for digging.
Unlike other turtles, the gophers generally have a preference for plant food over
animal food. They feed on a variety of leaves and weeds and sometimes on
fruits too.
These tortoises can be found in Florida and other
southeastern areas. They live mainly on dry sand, digging their own homes or
burrows. Their preference for digging is most likely a reason for their being
known as gopher turtles. Their burrows can have a tunnel of
more than 10 feet long that terminates into a hollow resting area. Aside from providing
shelter, these burrows also have one other important ecological function. They also serve
as havens for animals when wild fires break, thus saving many of these animals
from death.
From all appearances, the natural environment of gopher
tortoises is unique. It is also generally more difficult to copy. This
is why saving them from extinction is even more difficult. This is also why you
shouldn’t attempt saving gopher tortoises on your own even if the law allowed
it. Legal conservation agencies would know better how to replicate the natural habitat of
these turtles.
The legal and expert care of these tortoises present other
challenges. Gopher tortoises are prone to respiratory tract infections as well as bone or
scute problems.
Help save a gopher turtle when you can. If you are not
very sure if you are face to face with a gopher tortoise or some other species
of turtle, contact the authorities. Do not touch stray turtles unless you are
absolutely sure that they aren’t of the gopher species.
