Meet The Gopher Tortoise

Gopher Tortoises

Scientific Name:

Gopherus polyphemus

Conservation Status:

"Threatened" in Fl.

Population:

700,000 - 800,000 Individuals in Fl.

Lifespan:

40 - 60 Years

Size:

9-11 inches as adults, 8 - 15Lbs

Appearance:

Domed tan, brown,

or gray shell

Range:

From southern South Carolina through southern Georgia, into Florida, and west across southern Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

Habitat:

Sandhills, scrub, pine flatwoods, coastal dunes

Fast Facts About Gopher Tortoises

What is a
Gopher Tortoise.

The gopher tortoise is a land-dwelling tortoise native to the southeastern United States and is the only tortoise species found east of the Mississippi River. In Florida, gopher tortoises occur in all 67 counties, thriving in well-drained, sandy soils across longleaf pine forests, scrublands, and coastal dunes. Known for their deep, tunnel-like burrows, gopher tortoises are ecosystem engineers—their homes provide shelter for hundreds of other species, from small mammals and reptiles to insects and amphibians. Remarkably, these tortoises have been on Earth for over 60 million years, yet they now face significant conservation challenges due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and human activities. Despite these threats, gopher tortoises remain a vital part of southeastern ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and maintaining healthy landscapes.

Apperance.

Gopher tortoises are moderate-sized, terrestrial turtles with a distinctive body built for life on land. Like all tortoises, their shell is made of two sections: the carapace (top shell, fused to the ribs and backbone) and the plastron (bottom shell, an extension of the sternum). The shell grows with the tortoise, producing new keratinized plates, called scutes, at regular intervals. These scutes are unique to each individual, much like human fingerprints, and can indicate age and health. The plastron remains yellowish and unmarked throughout life. Male and female adults can be distinguished by the plastron’s shape: males have a concave lower shell, while females have a flat plastron. Gopher tortoises have sturdy, elephant-like hind legs and front limbs that are flattened and shovel-shaped, covered with thick scales. These specialized limbs allow them to dig extensive burrows, while the hind legs provide powerful support for carrying their heavy shell. Each foot has sharp claws—four on the hind feet and five on the front—and unlike aquatic turtles, their feet are not webbed, making them completely land-dependent. Overall, the gopher tortoise is a well-camouflaged, strong, and heavily armored terrestrial reptile, perfectly adapted to life in sandy, dry upland habitats.

Size.

Gopher tortoises are considered relatively small compared to other tortoise species. Adults typically measure 9–11 inches (23–28 cm) in shell length, though some individuals can grow up to 15 inches (38 cm). Fully grown, they usually weigh between 8–15 pounds (3.6–6.8 kg). Growth is categorized by life stage based on carapace length (CL): Hatchlings: less than 2.4 inches (6 cm) Juveniles: 2.4–5.1 inches (6–13 cm) Subadults: 5.1–8.6 inches (13–22 cm) Adults: 8.7 inches (22 cm) or greater

Behavior.

Gopher tortoises are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day and rest at night—sensible creatures who prefer sunshine to darkness. Their days are mostly spent foraging for food, basking in the sun, or maintaining their burrows. With their slow metabolism, they don’t need to eat constantly and spend roughly 80% of their lives underground, sheltered in the burrows they dig. These burrows provide stable temperatures and humidity year-round, offering protection from predators, extreme weather, drought, and even fire. Despite their reputation as solitary animals, gopher tortoises are not as antisocial as once believed. While they don’t form herds or tight-knit groups, they often live in proximity to one another and occasionally visit neighboring burrows. Some females even appear to form loose bonds, making regular “social calls” to familiar individuals. Males and females may share burrows from time to time, and even males may cohabitate occasionally showing territorial or courtship behaviors. These social interactions are more common in dense populations, where burrows are close together. Though generally shy around people, gopher tortoises are gentle and non-aggressive. If handled respectfully—such as when helping one safely cross a road—they pose no threat and rarely bite. They may hiss or retreat into their shells when startled, but this is simply a defense mechanism. Activity levels vary with the seasons. In Florida’s warm climate, gopher tortoises can be active year-round, with peak activity between April and June and again in September and October. During colder months, they enter a period of brumation—a reptilian version of dormancy—where they remain in their burrows and their metabolism slows. However, they may occasionally emerge on warmer days to bask or forage. These burrows, often 15 feet long and 6.5 feet deep, provide stable temperatures and humidity year-round, protecting tortoises from predators, fire, drought, and extreme weather. Within them, gopher tortoises maintain body temperatures between 70°F and 89°F, making these underground retreats essential for their survival.

Habitat.

Gopher tortoises are native to the southeastern United States, ranging from southeastern Louisiana to southern South Carolina and throughout Florida. They thrive in well-drained, sandy soils that allow them to dig extensive burrows for shelter and nesting. Preferred habitats include longleaf pine sandhills, xeric oak hammocks, scrub, pine flatwoods, dry prairies, coastal dunes, and other dry upland environments. They are also adaptable and may be found in disturbed or human-altered areas, such as pastures, old fields, and grassy roadsides. A suitable habitat for gopher tortoises combines three key features: Well-drained sandy soils for burrowing Low-growing herbaceous plants for food Open, sunny areas with sparse canopy for nesting and basking Historically, natural fires played a vital role in maintaining these open landscapes by reducing dense tree cover and encouraging the growth of herbaceous plants that tortoises eat. Today, prescribed fire is a crucial management tool used to restore and maintain these habitats. Without regular fire, habitats can become overgrown and unsuitable for gopher tortoises. Gopher tortoises are homebodies, typically constructing multiple burrows (females average four, males seven) within a defined home range. Most adult tortoises feed within 90 feet of their burrows, though some individuals may use areas ranging from 0.1 to over 100 acres, depending on habitat quality, food availability, season, and social interactions. These burrows are not only homes for tortoises—they provide critical shelter for over 350 other species, including gopher frogs, snakes, small mammals, and various invertebrates. By maintaining open, sandy habitats with abundant forage and suitable burrowing sites, land managers help protect both gopher tortoises and the many species that rely on them.

Reproduction.

Gopher tortoises may be quiet creatures, but their courtship and breeding behavior are far from dull. Unlike many animals, there are no special names to distinguish male and female tortoises—they’re simply “tortoises.” Their sex is determined by subtle physical traits: males have a concave plastron (the flat underside of the shell) to help them mount females during mating, while females have a flat plastron and tend to grow slightly larger. Males also have longer tails and more pronounced mental glands—located on the chin—which release chemical signals during the breeding season to communicate gender and readiness to mate. The courtship season runs from February through November, peaking in May and June, with the most activity occurring in the warm afternoon hours. Courtship rituals usually take place near burrow entrances and involve an elaborate display of head-bobbing, circling, and scent exchange. A male may rub his chin to spread pheromones from his mental glands, hoping to catch a female’s attention. If she’s interested, she may approach and allow the ritual to continue. If not, she’ll retreat into her burrow—or block the entrance altogether to send a clear message. Males often compete fiercely for the attention of females, engaging in wrestling matches that can resemble miniature jousting tournaments. Using the gular projection, or “horn,” at the front of their shell, males try to flip their rivals onto their backs. The winner earns the right to mate, though fights can leave the loser stranded and vulnerable. Interestingly, tortoises have occasionally been observed helping overturned individuals right themselves, even after combat—a rare act of reptilian kindness. After mating, females lay a single clutch of 5–9 eggs each year, typically between May and July. Nests are dug in sunny, sandy spots, often right in the mound at the burrow entrance, called the burrow apron. The eggs incubate for 80–110 days, with hatchlings emerging between August and November. Like most reptiles, gopher tortoises offer no parental care—the young are fully independent from the moment they hatch. Life is challenging for these tiny tortoises. Only about 25% of eggs hatch successfully, and just 10% of hatchlings survive their first year due to predators such as raccoons, foxes, skunks, armadillos, and fire ants. Those that make it face a long road to maturity: males reach adulthood at 9–12 years, while females may take 10–21 years to mature depending on their environment. Because gopher tortoises reproduce slowly and face high hatchling mortality, protecting their nests and habitats is critical for the long-term survival of the species.

Diet.

Gopher tortoises are herbivores, primarily grazing on low-growing plants such as broadleaf grasses, wiregrass, legumes, gopher apple, prickly pear cactus, and various berries, including wild grape, blackberry, blueberry, and beautyberry. They are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will eat whatever is most available in their environment, and their diet can shift seasonally based on food availability. Juveniles tend to forage on fewer plant species, selecting more protein-rich forbs and legumes, while adults may include a broader variety of plants, fungi, and occasionally calcium-rich soil, shells, or stones to support reproduction. Tortoises typically forage within about 150–160 feet of their burrows, although they may travel farther when necessary. They feed close to the ground, usually within four inches of the soil surface, favoring tender, young vegetation that is higher in nutrients and easier to chew. In savanna and scrub habitats, gopher tortoises act as the primary grazers, naturally pruning plants and maintaining open, diverse landscapes. Gopher tortoises also play a critical role in seed dispersal (zoochory). By consuming fruits such as cocoplum, saw palmetto berries, gopher apple, pawpaws, and hog plum, they spread seeds through their feces, helping regenerate native plant communities. The tortoise’s digestive process can even scarify seeds, promoting faster germination. Being adapted to dry environments, gopher tortoises obtain most of their water from plants, though they may drink from puddles after rain. Adults can survive for many months without additional water, and in extreme conditions, they are capable of enduring periods without food. By grazing and dispersing seeds, gopher tortoises help maintain healthy, open plant communities, benefiting not only themselves but also the many species that rely on these habitats. Their feeding habits make them essential ecosystem engineers in the longleaf pine forests, scrublands, dry prairies, and coastal dunes of the southeastern United States.

A Keystone -
The Gopher
Tortoise Burrow.

Gopher tortoises are a keystone species, meaning they have a disproportionately large impact on their ecosystem. Their ecological importance comes not just from the tortoises themselves, but from the burrows they dig, which serve as “underground hotels” for at least 362 other species—including 60 vertebrates and 302 invertebrates. Without these burrows, gopher tortoises would be just another turtle; with them, they support an entire community of wildlife. Gopher tortoises are fossorial animals, digging their burrows with strong, shovel-like front feet. A typical burrow averages 15 feet long and 6.5 feet deep, though some can reach up to 40 feet long and 10 feet deep. Each burrow has a single entrance, often marked by a mound of loose sand called an apron, and the width of the entrance roughly matches the tortoise’s size. The burrow consists of four parts: the apron, the mouth (entrance), the tunnel, and the end chamber. The half-moon shape of the entrance is created by the tortoise scraping its shell along the walls, making the structure incredibly strong. Tortoises often maintain multiple burrows, with females averaging four and males seven, sometimes more, forming clusters that extend across their territory. Tortoises often maintain multiple burrows, creating a cluster that can encompass several acres. They may also use abandoned burrows or those made by other tortoises, demonstrating resourcefulness in maintaining their homes. These burrows provide a stable microclimate year-round, protecting tortoises from extreme heat, cold, drought, and fire. Burrow temperatures remain cooler than the surface in summer and warmer in winter, allowing tortoises to spend up to 80% of their time underground. They typically emerge to forage, bask, or mate, but otherwise rely on their burrows for safety and survival. The burrows are critical habitat for other species, known as commensals. Some, like the Florida mouse, are obligate commensals, relying entirely on gopher burrows for survival. Others, such as Eastern indigo snakes, gopher frogs, burrowing owls, beetles, and crickets, use the burrows opportunistically for shelter or food storage. Even the burrow apron provides a microhabitat for smaller organisms, highlighting the burrow’s complex ecological role. The burrows also benefit the surrounding ecosystem. The digging process aerates the soil and brings nutrients from deeper layers to the surface, supporting plant growth. Protecting gopher tortoises safeguards not only the tortoises themselves but also the entire community of species that rely on their burrows. Their presence is an indicator of healthy upland ecosystems, including longleaf pine forests, scrublands, and dry prairies. Though modest in appearance, gopher tortoises are master builders and ecosystem engineers—without them, the balance of these habitats and the survival of countless other species would be at risk.

Gopher
Tortoise Day.

April 10 is Gopher Tortoise Day!

Each year, this day is dedicated to raising awareness and appreciation for the gopher tortoise and the vital role it plays in our ecosystem.

You can join the celebration by hosting a community event, encouraging your city or county to officially recognize April 10 as Gopher Tortoise Day, or by sharing the importance of protecting these keystone creatures with others. Or simply take a moment to admire a gopher tortoise from a safe distance and appreciate the unique way they exist through the world.

Threats and Conservation Efforts.

Once abundant across the southeastern United States from North Carolina to Texas, gopher tortoise populations have declined drastically due to habitat loss, urbanization, and human-related threats. By the late 20th century, they had disappeared from large portions of their historical range, including much of the Florida Panhandle and southeastern coastal regions. Recognizing these declines, Florida first listed the gopher tortoise as a Species of Special Concern in 1979, later upgrading its status to State-designated Threatened in 2007. Western populations of the species are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. Today, both the tortoise and its burrow are protected by law, making it illegal to harass, capture, or relocate them without authorization. The primary threat to gopher tortoises is habitat loss and fragmentation. Longleaf pine forests, scrub, and dry prairies—their preferred habitats—have been cleared for development, agriculture, and roads. As their habitat shrinks and becomes divided, tortoises are forced to cross roads more often, putting them at greater risk of vehicle collisions, especially females seeking nesting sites. Fire suppression also plays a major role, as it allows forests to become overgrown and unsuitable for tortoises. Other threats include invasive species, nest predation, disease, and the growing impacts of climate change such as extreme heat, drought, and sea level rise. Despite these challenges, conservation measures have helped stabilize populations in some areas. Strategies include prescribed fire to restore longleaf pine ecosystems, habitat protection through land conservation programs, and strict relocation requirements for tortoises found on development sites. However, relocation alone cannot replace the value of intact habitat—large, connected areas of undeveloped land remain essential to the species’ survival. Because gopher tortoises are a keystone species, protecting them benefits over 350 other species that rely on their burrows for shelter, including the Eastern indigo snake, gopher frog, Florida mouse, and countless invertebrates. Continued conservation actions—such as monitoring populations, safeguarding habitats, and raising public awareness—are critical to ensuring that this ancient tortoise continues to shape the ecosystems of the Southeast for generations to come.