Creature of the day: The Gopher Tortoise 🐢🐢 The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is 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 other animal species. G. polyphemus is threatened by predation and habitat destruction. Gopher tortoises are herbivore scavengers and opportunistic grazers. Thus, their diets contains over 3

2.1K views · 14K reactions | Running into the week like… On July 1,...

As we kick off a brand new year, take a cue from the gopher tortoise: slow, steady and building something that lasts! This video captures a gopher tortoise digging its burrow and creating a safe home at South Venice Lemon Bay Preserve. New beginnings don’t have to be rushed. Sometimes, the best way forward is to dig in, lay a strong foundation and make space for growth. Here’s to a year of thoughtful progress, healthy habits and protecting the small actions that make a big difference! 🐢✨ #SRQCo

46K views · 469 reactions | Take a look inside a gopher tortoise...

We are caring for a young gopher tortoise with a squishy shell! The patient is the larger of the two hatchlings in the video. The tortoise (patient 25-4846) was brought to us after being found with injuries to its carapace. Upon examination, we determined that the tortoise's carapace and plastron (upper and lower shell) were softer than expected, suggesting a possible nutritional deficiency. We often admit hatchling tortoises that have been taken in by well-meaning individuals who mistakenly bel