My Local Gopher Tortoise

[WishingStar]

We've seen this beauty about four times this year. I live off a fairly busy bank road, so my kids and I were really concerned when it crossed the road several times.

Can you tell from the photos if it's male or female, and maybe age? We wanted to name it and hope to see it more frequently. I'm not sure where it's burrow is located; somewhere behind my two acres.

 

[Tom]

I don't know this species as well as the Gophers species we have out west, but in the ones out here, the males get elongated gular scutes and well developed chin glands. I don't see those in your pics. The other indicators for males would be a concave plastron, and a large long tail. Are you able to see the tail? I'm sure you are not allowed to pick them up, but if ever you saw the plastron, concavity or flatness would be a good clue.

If it is a female, it may be crossing the road to deposit eggs. Just one possibility.

I wish to commend you for looking out for this wild tortoise.

 

[Alice Sulcatia]

We've seen this beauty about four times this year. I live off a fairly busy bank road, so my kids and I were really concerned when it crossed the road several times.

Can you tell from the photos if it's male or female, and maybe age? We wanted to name it and hope to see it more frequently. I'm not sure where it's burrow is located; somewhere behind my two acres.

What a beauty! My guess is as good as Tom`s - she is crossing to lay eggs. I have watched too many nature documentaries on how housing developments disrupt natural habitats and routes to feeding/mating/giving birth grounds. In most cases its fatal to the animals.

Here is a wild idea: could you put up signs by the road? Turtle crossing or something along those lines? Or even put on that plastic alien green guy with a red hat, saying SLOW - typical kids around indicator? To get people's attention and slow down?

 

[TammyJ]

What a beauty! My guess is as good as Tom`s - she is crossing to lay eggs. I have watched too many nature documentaries on how housing developments disrupt natural habitats and routes to feeding/mating/giving birth grounds. In most cases its fatal to the animals.

Here is a wild idea: could you put up signs by the road? Turtle crossing or something along those lines? Or even put on that plastic alien green guy with a red hat, saying SLOW - typical kids around indicator? To get people's attention and slow down?

I also thought of putting signs!
I suppose it's probably illegal.

 

[Alice Sulcatia]

I also thought of putting signs!
I suppose it's probably illegal.

Why would it be illegal? It's just a sign of caution. Better than crazy political banners and boards, and they are everywhere.

 

[TammyJ]

Why would it be illegal? It's just a sign of caution. Better than crazy political banners and boards, and they are everywhere.

Of course I agree with you that it should be legal and that it would be better than what you usually see. But even in little Jamaica where I live, it's totally illegal for ordinary citizens or residents to put up signs of any kind on a public road or public land.
The Government, of course, can do anything they please or allow anything they want to, and they do.
But we're not allowed to discuss politics in this forum .

 

[Alice Sulcatia]

T

Of course I agree with you that it should be legal and that it would be better than what you usually see. But even in little Jamaica where I live, it's totally illegal for ordinary citizens or residents to put up signs of any kind on a public road or public land.
The Government, of course, can do anything they please or allow anything they want to, and they do.
But we're not allowed to discuss politics in this forum .

That is most unfortunate. I had no idea something like that would be illegal. In my mind, safety measures should be appreciated, not punished. However, their driveway from the road is private land; what if the signs are at the entrance? Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[TammyJ]

T

That is most unfortunate. I had no idea something like that would be illegal. In my mind, safety measures should be appreciated, not punished. However, their driveway from the road is private land; what if the signs are at the entrance? Shouldn't be a problem.

Yes, I think they could certainly put signs on their own land or driveway! I sure would.

 

[WishingStar]

What a beauty! My guess is as good as Tom`s - she is crossing to lay eggs. I have watched too many nature documentaries on how housing developments disrupt natural habitats and routes to feeding/mating/giving birth grounds. In most cases its fatal to the animals.

Here is a wild idea: could you put up signs by the road? Turtle crossing or something along those lines? Or even put on that plastic alien green guy with a red hat, saying SLOW - typical kids around indicator? To get people's attention and slow down?

I'm going to ask a local wildlife rehabber, who also works at Gulf Coast Reptile Rescue, if there's anything I can do like that.

I haven't seen the tortoise in a little while so hopefully it's staying back somewhere safe behind my property.