Comments on: Gopher Tortoises Emerging, New Wildlife Conservation Efforts Aim To Protect

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:04:07 +0000

Growing up in escambia county Alabama, I had gophers as pets in the mid sixties. I always eventually released them. Sadly, I never see them in the wild much anymore. Hope this program and public awareness returns the health of the population.

By: 429SCJ

429SCJ — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:24:38 +0000

After doing a little reading I was surprised at just how little I know about Gophers.
I have added the NRCS Field Office number to my directory and will just move the
gopher off the road and then call the experts. Next time, which I hope is often.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 00:13:28 +0000

In a very old edition of National geographics (1950’s) that my husband came across had a recipe for turtle soup. How far we have come

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:19:10 +0000

You know it’s coming. When those sick-o’s aim their vehicles to hit them.
It is stomache churning, and heart breaking to see the tortiose’s broken bodies on the road.

By: riversunshine

riversunshine — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:31:26 +0000

I have saved so many of these fellows from the soup pot that I can’t keep track. All of the old timers love the gopher soup. Gophers are such gentle, sweet creatures.

By: Wharf Rat

Wharf Rat — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:47:44 +0000

Many years ago, I found a gopher tortoise attempting to commit “gophercide” by crossing Nine Mile Road, near University Parkway. Knowing some people would consider this animal a target, I picked it up and took it home. I gave it a secure home for several years. I learned a lot about this critter. We noted the times it went into hibernation, and came out of it’s burrow. We found out how to determine its sex. HE would follow you around the yard for a tomato, or a grape. Somebody told me I was in violation of the law by keeping him because he was an endangered species. I assured them, this one was in no way endangered. After all I had torn a federal tag off of a mattress, and felt I was bullet proof. Alas, puberty set in for this little fellow, and he set off to follow the natural instincts of nature. I hope he did not become a “Hoover chicken.”

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:53:49 +0000

REGARDING:
“he would have wound up in Buford’s Dutch oven.”

Lots of people used to like to eat them but it certainly never struck me as sporting.

David for tofu
(not that tofu can put up a fight either)

By: BentStraight

BentStraight — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:37:25 +0000

I actually had a couple of young men pull up in my yard and ask if they could put a “turtle” they had found in the woods into the lake that I live on! I informed them that it was not a turtle and would probably drown if they put it in the lake, I also told them they would face some serious fines if caught with a gopher tortoise in their possession, they thought I was pulling their leg!

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:21:19 +0000

Last year it broke my heart to see two of these turtles had been hit by cars on hwy. 95A north. I think cars are more of a problem for the animals than predators out here. Not sure what can be done about that. I had one turtle eating in my garden in the morning…he really wasn’t hurting anything much…I didn’t begrudge him the food. I shared.

By: 429SCJ

429SCJ — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:16:56 +0000

I observed a gopher crossing 95A last summer. I stopped and placed the tortise in the floorboard of my vehicle and drove the gopher to the wildlife management property on Jack’s Branch Road.

Before releasing the gopher I informed it that this was it’s lucky day as Old Buford
would have come driving along 95A and that he would have wound up in Buford’s
Dutch oven.