Gopher tortoise is new resident at Sopchoppy Depot Park

By LYNN ARTZ, DAVID RODDENBERRY & SANDY TEDDER

With its abundance of native plants (nearly 200 species), Sopchoppy Depot Park attracts a variety of wildlife.

In addition to butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other birds, volunteers have spotted frogs, anoles, and a snake at the 1.7-acre park. Now the park has a new resident. A gopher tortoise has made the northwest garden its home.
This garden features upland native plants, including many uncommon species and even the state-endangered Zigzag Silkgrass (Pityopsis flexuosa).
The Depot Park gardeners view it a great compliment that a gopher tortoise chose their upland garden as desirable habitat.
David Roddenberry spotted the freshly dug burrow on May 29th. Sandy Tedder later photographed the tortoise at its burrow entrance. She also educated a park visitor whose dog was digging up the burrow that gopher tortoises are protected and that disturbing a gopher tortoise or its burrow is illegal.
Gopher tortoises typically occupy upland habitats with sandy soil. They dig deep burrows for shelter that they share with hundreds of other species. Burrows can reach up to 40 feet long but average 15 feet long and 6.5 feet deep. Because other species rely on gopher tortoises and their burrows for survival, they are considered a keystone species.
Gopher tortoises feed on low-growing plants as well as fruits dropped from shrubs and trees. They typically forage within 160 feet of their burrow. These gentle reptiles live for 40-70 years but reach reproductive maturity late. Their population has greatly declined.
The gopher tortoise is a state-designated threatened species in Florida. It is illegal to pursue, capture, move, harass, or kill gopher tortoises or damage their eggs or burrows. Report harassment to FWC’s Wildlife Alert Reward Program at 888-404-3922 or online, 24-hours a day.