ORLANDO SENTINEL (Florida) 24 July 08 Moving day for SCC tortoises (Tammie Wersinger)
Seven gopher tortoises were moved from the Seminole Community College main campus recently. The tortoises, which had made their homes in burrows, were removed July 9 and given new homes so that construction could begin on the SCC-UCF University Partnership Center.
SCC's Environmental Club adviser, Anne Hawkinson, watched the excavation of the tortoises.
A team of environmental experts from Lotspeich and Associates used PVC pipe, shovels and a large backhoe to get to the turtles in their burrows, which were as deep as 20 feet underground.
After the tortoises were removed, they were showered, placed in individual rubber tubs and transferred to a temporary holding area.
Within 24 hours of being excavated, they were transferred to a rescue-habitat property in Sumter County, where they were given "starter burrows," partially excavated holes for them to finish and make their own, Hawkinson said.
At least two tortoises remain on SCC property because their burrows were thought to be out of harm's way.
Moving day for SCC tortoises