Gopher Tortoises

Upland areas house endangered gopher tortoises, which create deep burrows and forage on low-growing plants. These burrows are shared with more than 350 others species, which makes gopher tortoises an important keystone species to Florida. Gopher tortoises who make their burrows in the sides of the wetland berms are relocated to safe areas of the wetlands where they can continue to thrive without damaging the berms.