Burrow into the 10th annual #GopherTortoiseDay on April 10

For immediate release: April 10, 2024 Media contact: FWC Press Office, 850-488-4676, [email protected]

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites you to celebrate gopher tortoise conservation with the 10th annual Gopher Tortoise Day on April 10. Visit GopherTortoiseDayFL.com to learn more. You can also join in by using #GopherTortoiseDay on social media.

In Florida, gopher tortoises are found in parts of all 67 counties and are frequently encountered in neighborhoods, along roadways, and in many of Florida's public parks and forests. Gopher Tortoise Day was adopted in 2016 by the Gopher Tortoise Council to increase appreciation and conservation support of the species.

Don't stop at just April 10. Support tortoise conservation year-round with these tips:

• Spot a tortoise? It is usually the best option to leave it undisturbed, so enjoy watching it from a distance.
• Consider making your home and neighborhood gopher tortoise-friendly by planting gopher tortoise-friendly plants or creating a Gopher Tortoise-Friendly Yard.
• If you encounter a tortoise crossing a roadway (and it's safe for you), you can place the tortoise on the side of the road in the direction it was heading. Never put tortoises in water, as gopher tortoises can't swim like turtles can.
• Report sightings of gopher tortoises and their burrows or notify the FWC of a sick, injured or dead tortoise.

Learn more about living alongside tortoises at the FWC's Gopher Tortoise Program Education Corner and Education Resources Page. You'll find ideas for kids' activities, such as fun gopher tortoise coloring pages, fact sheets, posters and more.

Gopher tortoises are designated as a threatened species and protected in Florida. It is illegal to harm a gopher tortoise, its eggs or burrow, relocate without a permit, or possess a tortoise, its eggs, or any parts of a tortoise. Report wildlife violations to the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Spring is an active time for gopher tortoises and many other native wildlife species. Visit MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise for tips on living with tortoises and more ways you can support gopher tortoise conservation in Florida.