Hello, I am new to this forum. We have been "adopted" by a gopher tortise. I know this tortise is an endangered species, and I'm not trying to keep it as a pet. It moved in under our tool shed last September, and didn't come out until last March. All I want to do is to help the tortise get food and water. We have set a water dish out near the burrow entrance, and keep it filled with fresh water daily. We have kept a small patch of grass/weeds unmown near the burrow, so the tortise can eat the grass or weeds. The question I have is, do tortises need to get in water to cool off? Do they swim like turtles? My knowledge of tortises is limited. I don't want to harrass the tortise, just make sure it has what it needs. I would consider putting in a small pond nearby, if I thought it would help. Yes, I'm a softy when it comes to reptiles, and have been since 5 years ago, when we got an iguana. Here is a picture of the tortise.
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Lamar, Debbie, Nathaniel and Iggi :>~
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Wild gopher tortise question
Replies (5)
my suggestion is if you are a rural part of... where ever you are... leave him alone, don't pamper him, he's not a stray animal he's a wild animal. if you life in an urban environment move him to some woods.
this may or may not be the right advice but it is my advice.
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I agree, if you are in a rural area leave him alone, obviously he liked your shed when you were doing nothing for him. It is really cool that you can observe him in your backyard. You may inadvertently scare him away with all the activity around his burrow.
If you are in an urban area, I would still leave him alone. Some of them have diseases that can transfer to other gopher torts. That one of the "reasons" that they bury them instead of relocating them.
We were driving through a suburban 'hood and we saw one crossing the yards of the houses. The kids on the street seem to be used to it traveling hither and yon in their yards, they kept playing even after they spotted it. Hope this helps.
Allegra
i believe its illegal, to even touch a gopher tortoises, what you should do is contact you fish and game, and tell them your problem and ask them what you should do, these tortoises are on the edge of being gone, and they are highly protected.
DO NOT put it in the pond. Tortoises are not adapted for swimming in the way that turtles are. If you put it in the water it would drown. Letting it be is probably the best. However you may also be able to contact a local wildlife center and see what they have to say but it may be a good idea to let them know that it is not bothering you(if it isnt) so they dont feel the need to just come and take it from its new home under your shed.
No one on this forum is very smart anymore. Leave it. It probably won't need the water. They take everything they need from the food they eat. The grass should be perfect. A gopher would die in the woods. The move from wooded places to areas like your shed because the grass there is short enough for it to eat. Hope you enjoy the little guy. Brooks
