View allAll Photos Tagged gophertortoise
This gopher tortoise was seen chilling outside of the entrance to its burrow at See this, and more, on my website at tom-claud.pixels.com. Regional Park in Stuart, Florida.
This gopher tortoise was seen resting on a mound of sand at the entrance to its burrow at Halpatiokee Regional Park in Stuart, Florida. See this, and more, on my website at tom-claud.pixels.com.
This tortoise looks smaller in this photo than in person. A mature male. Males have concave plastrons, while those of females are flat. The extensive burrows dug by tortoises provide home to almost 400 species. Big Lagoon SP. Pensacola, FL. Our beautiful world, pass it on.
Date: April 12, 2021
Location: Vaill Point Park - Saint Augustine Shores, Florida (Saint John's County)
A large female gorpher tortoise out at mid-day grazing on grass. Gopher tortoises are found mostly on the Florida peninsula, and are getting scarce. These vegetarians come out of their deep burrows in the middle of the day in warm weather. They live in fire adapted pine and scrub lands and also sand dunes along the coast. Their deep burrows provide homes for many other creatures, such as toads, gopher frogs, skunks, Florida mice, coachwhip snakes, diamondback rattlesnakes, and indigo snakes.
There's a new group of Gopher Tortoises at Dauset Trails Nature Center who seemed pretty happy to be there.
Most of them were halfway inside their tunnels but this one was wandering about and came a little closer to get a good look at us while we were looking at him, or her.
This small little vacant lot between Condominiums in New Smyrna Beach, Fl is home to at least two Gopher Tortoise. I was hoping one would be out of its burrow, clebrating Earth Day....not today.
For the past couple of weeks or so, one of the highlights of my day has been to observe this gopher tortoise in my yard. It would come out of its protected hideaway under some brush and trees and forage for food for a short time before returning.
This morning I looked out, and the tortoise was on the move. It seemed to be searching for something, quickly (for a tortoise) making its way around the perimeter of my fence and the side of the house. Then it headed for property across the street, beyond a house and towards an empty lot. All I could do was stand back and watch for traffic to make sure its trek across the street was a safe one.
Press "z" to enlarge.
Nikon D7500, Tamron 100-400mm
f/4.5, 100mm
1/2000, ISO 400
Hand held.
The gopher tortoise is a species of the Gopherus genus native to the southeastern United States. The gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for at least 360 known other animal species. Hernando, Florida, USA.
This old male lives by my parents house. I've known him for over 20 years. They're a threatened species, but seem to be doing very well in West Central Florida. - Citrus County FL
Amazing turtle/tortoise fact: He can walk (very slowly) and eat at the same time :-); I watched him do it as he crossed the sandy road, chomping as he went.
Well, apparently I was just kidding when I said no more texture. This guy just begged for post processing, so he got what he asked for. (amberdream texture courtesy of Alice Popcorn)
Gopher tortoises are long-lived reptiles that occupy upland habitat throughout Florida including forests, pastures, and yards. They dig deep burrows for shelter and forage on low-growing plants. Gopher tortoises share these burrows with more than 350 other species, and are therefore referred to as a keystone species. In Florida, the gopher tortoise is listed as Threatened. Both the tortoise and its burrow are protected under state law. Gopher tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place, and property owners must obtain permits from the FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission) before capturing and relocating tortoises.
I grew up around gopher tortoises, and it's really great to see them thriving in my neighborhood. A common sight that never gets old. Their burrows are widely used by other species throughout the ecosystem, making gopher tortoises a keystone species with a pivotal role to play in their native community.
Date: April 3, 2022
Location: Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park - Ormond Beach, Florida (Volusia County)
Gopher Tortoise St Augustine FL
Taking a walk on the Beach
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Passed this fella making his way down the trail also. The official state tortoise of Florida is the gopher tortoise.
Withlacoochee State Trail, Florida
Spotted this large Gopher Tortoise while out Geocaching. The Gopher Tortoise is listed as a threatened species but I do see them often as they are not shy at all. This one came within inches of me while I was taking photos.
living on an adjoining five acres... this Gopher Tortoise showed up sporting a new tattoo. It was not marked two weeks ago... hmmmm
I believe this is a Gopher Tortoise, I'm no expert so if anyone can verify or correct me it would be appreciated. This fella was in Round Island Park on Orchid Island. The Gopher Tortoise is a threatened species.
Planet Earth Needs your Help. If you are interested in saving the planet for our feathered friends, wild flowers, wild animals and nature areas, as well as humankind follow the links below to articles I and my girlfriend have published. Each article explains in mostly layman terms what scientist are observing and forecasting about climate change as well as offering things an individual can do to help reduce global warming.
Latest Article
Texas storm a wake up call for a worst case climate disaster?
planetearthneedsyou.blogspot.com/2021/02/texas-storm-wake...
All Previous Articles
Liberty Co., FL
I was just about to turn into my driveway yesterday when I saw an adult gopher tortoise scuttle across the road. I pulled over and watched it quickly retreat into its burrow—and then only a few meters away I found this juvenile!
The education staff member had brought Sandy, the gopher tortoise, to an event, hoping to keep the attention of the people waiting in line for wine tasting.
I positioned myself behind Sandy and her human friend, hoping to get the guests in the background.
Nothing doing! Sandy was determined to approach the camera instead!
Steinhatchee Falls and Steinhatchee Rise are tracts of protected lands in Florida named for aquatic features. Steinhatchee Falls includes 1,766 acres (715 ha), and Steinhatchee Rise covers 3,559 acres (1,440 ha). Steinhatchee Falls is in southeastern Taylor County, Florida. Steinhatchee Rise is in southwestern Dixie County, Florida.
The area around the falls is floodplain swamp, bottom land forest, pine plantation, and mixed hardwood forest. The area around Steinhatchee Rise contains also includes floodplain swamp, bottom land forest, pine plantation, and mixed hardwood forest as well as mesic woods and wet flat woods. Animal species in the area include gopher tortoise, wading birds, wild hog, swallow-tailed kite, Swainson's warbler, deer, turkey, and squirrel. A trailhead for the Steinhatchee Trail Tennille Trail is on Florida SR 51.
Steinhatchee Falls Park is a tourist attraction and viewpoint with water cascading over a small falls on the Steinhatchee River. The Steinhatchee Trail is a 3-mile (5 km) multi-use trail ending at Steinhatchee Falls. Coming off a limestone lip across the river, the height of Steinhatchee Falls ranges from four to five feet down to being almost unnoticeable when the river is high.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steinhatchee_Falls
map.mysuwanneeriver.com/tracts/steinhatchee-falls-185/
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