A great way to help this State-designated Threatened species is by respecting their space and enjoying them from a distance. While it’s tempting to get a closer look or give them a helping hand, gopher tortoises are experts at finding their way if healthy and not in immediate danger.
If you see a gopher tortoise crossing a road and it is safe for you to do so, you may pick it up and place it directly across the road in the direction it was heading. It’s important to always put tortoises on land and not in water.
If you find a sick or injured tortoise, take a photo if possible, and call (850) 921-1030. If you find an injured tortoise after hours or on weekends, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s toll-free Wildlife Alert hotline at (888) 404-FWCC (3922), a local Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator or an emergency veterinary office.
It is illegal to harm a gopher tortoise, its eggs or its burrow, to relocate without a permit, or to possess a tortoise, its eggs, or shells. Report wildlife violations to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
Gopher Tortoise Day was adopted in 2016 by the Gopher Tortoise Council to increase appreciation and conservation support of the species. The FWC and partners celebrate on April 10th each year. Please visit MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise or the Florida Gopher Tortoise Day website to learn more about tortoises and get involved today and all year round!
