Gopher Tortise
Posted by Duane Caton on April 4, 2008
Q: Hi,
How would I take care of an wild Gopher Tortise?
Habitat: field/meadow
State: Florida
Habitat: field/meadow
A: A red flag went up when I saw your question. Gopher Tortoisee are protected animals.
"Gopher tortoises are protected by state law, Chapter 68A - 27.005, FL Administrative Code. You cannot relocate tortoises without first obtaining a permit from this agency."
I realize these animals are really interesting but their population is down and they really need to be protected. If you really want to have a tortoise, I'd suggest going to a pet store and see if you can purchase one of their non-threatened animals. If you already have a Gopher Tortoise now, I'd check with your local state conservation department and ask them for help relocating your animal - I'm sure they'll be helpful and not give you a hard time at all. You might feel bad losing your animal but you'll also know that you've helped this species by returning it to the wild. Thanks for asking.
John Wiessinger ( April 7, 2008)