Gopher Tortoise

he Gopher Tortoise is a slow moving land tortoise that can grow to a length of 14 inches. They are the only tortoises native to the United States, and only one is found in Florida.

Gopher tortoises are herbivorous, and can be handled without fear of being bitten. Although these tortoises are incapable of swimming they do enjoy soaking in shallow water. All four of their feet are coverd with thick scales, and all limbs have strong, dull claws.

Juveniles have bright tan and brown shells while the shells of adults are darker.Gopher tortoises create burrows up to 30 feet long with dens at the ends. These burrows are used by over 300 species of animals who use them for protection against bad weather, predators, and fire.

Gopher tortoises browse on low growing vegetation including wiregrass, broadleaf grasses, legumes, and fruit such as gopher apples, pawpaws, blackberries, prickly pears, and saw palmetto berries.

Gopher tortoises usually mate during April and May. Several weeks later the female lays 4-7 eggs in a sand mound near her burrow. The eggs hatch about 80 days later. The young either move into the mother's burrow or dig a small burrow nearby. However, many nests are lost to predators and it may be up to 10 years before she has a successful clutch.