New Project Chronicles and Conserves Native Tortoises – Local animal lovers don’t even have to see the state to encounter gopher tortoises.

Many American believe they have to travel to exotic locales such as the Galapagos Islands to get a glimpse of tortoises in their natural habitat. Fortunately, local animal lovers don’t even have to see the state to encounter gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).Recently, the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP), a division of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, began to participate in regional, multi-year population distribution survey and habitat restoration project.

The project seeks to first estimate the number of gopher tortoises in the state by using a scopes and remote cameras to investigate activity in burrows. Once that’s determined, the LNHP plans to enact conservation measures such as assisting private landowners with habitat management that includes mechanical clearing of understory, herbicide application, prescribed burning and planting longleaf pine.

Gopher tortoises inhabit the Gulf coastal plains from southern South Carolina to southeast Louisiana. In Louisiana, Mississippi and western Alabama, the tortoise is listed as “threatened” and subject to protection under the Endangered Species Act.

“In Louisiana, the tortoises are only found in three parishes,” explains LNHP Endangered Species Biologist Keri Landry. “Washington, Tangipahoa and St. Tammany parishes have upland pine forest with sandy soil and open habitat, where sunlight can reach the ground.”

These diverse environments attract bobwhite quail, wild turkey and other games birds. Unfortunately, they are disappearing. Changes in forest management and the lack of natural and prescribed fire have greatly reduced the open canopy forest that these tortoises prefer. And, high-and-dry real estate with good drainage also appeals to commercial and residential developers. Habitat loss and degradation are largely responsible for the tortoises’ decline.

In the absence of preferred habitat, these tortoises will dig their half-moon shaped burrows in road sides, ditch banks, utility and pipeline rights-of-way and pastures. And that’s where the one-foot long, 30-pound adults are likely to cross paths with people. Literally.

This time of year, as Louisianans take to the woods and waterways, well-meaning outdoor enthusiasts are picking up the tortoises. Some mistakenly believe the critter are box turtles keep them. Others identify the tortoises and call LDWF to relocate them.

“If we don’t know where they came from,” Landry says, “we can’t release them anywhere.” The wild tortoises can harbor a respiratory disease. So the rescued turtles cannot be placed with the captive populations until after they are tested. If they received a clean bill of health, they can be released into the Sandy Hollow Wildlife Area in Tangipahoa Parish.

So, Landry says the best tact is not to disturb any gopher tortoises in their native habitat. If the animal is in danger [such as in the middle of the road], she advises moving the turtle to a safe area in the direction in which he or she was heading.

For more information or to participate in LNHP, contact Keri Landry at 765-2809 or [email protected].

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

These and many other dogs, puppies, kittens and cats are available at Companion Animal Alliance, caabr.org. Each adoptable animal has been vaccinated, spayed/neutered, heartworm, FIV and temperament tested.