Can you keep a gopher tortoise as a pet?

They also receive protection through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It is illegal to have a gopher tortoise as a pet as well as to handle or harm them.

What does a baby gopher turtle eat?

Diet and Nutrition The Gopher tortoise is generally a herbivore (folivore) that eats low vegetation, mostly grasses and leaves, as well as occasional berries and wild fruits. In captivity, these tortoises enjoy watermelon and cantaloupe rinds.

Can you keep a baby gopher tortoise?

First, because gopher tortoises are protected, it is illegal for you to keep, move, or even feed the tortoise. The best thing to do is take it back where you found it and let it go out of harm’s way. Tortoises, like the majority of reptiles, do not take care of their young, so no adult tortoise will be looking.

How do you take care of a baby gopher turtle?

Like all other tortoises, gopher tortoises should be kept in outdoor pens with good lawns to forage from throughout the warmer months. Tortoises bask frequently and get their shell temperatures up to more than 90 degrees. Then they go out to feed, socialize and dig burrows.

What do I do if I find a gopher tortoise?

If you see an injured or dead gopher tortoise: Contact a local wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian for guidance during business hours. After business hours, contact an emergency veterinarian for guidance. Provide location information to ensure the tortoise can be returned to its burrow after treatment.

What do you do if you find a baby gopher?

Mother squirrels will retrieve their babies during the day, not at night. Again place the babies in a blanket in a box and place them near the area where they were found or at the bottom of the tree below the nest. Try to place the box that allows the babies to stay warm and avoid the elements.

Do gopher turtles need water?

They rarely need to go out of their way to drink water, and usually only do so during a drought, when water-storing plants may not be as plentiful.

How can you tell how old a gopher turtle is?

The Most Accurate Way to Determine a Turtle’s Age Knowing a turtle’s birthdate is by far the most accurate way of determining a turtle’s age because you can simply count the years and months since its birth. Unfortunately, this is also the only way to be truly certain of how old any turtle is.

Are gopher tortoises illegal to touch?

You may not touch or disturb a Gopher Tortoise or Gopher Tortoise burrow (Active or Inactive) except by permit issued by the director of the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission! Protected Species Violations will be Prosecuted!

Should I move a gopher tortoise?

You may help the tortoise cross the road by placing it out of harm’s way in the same direction that it was going. DO NOT take the tortoise with you or move it to a different area. Also, do not put your life in danger to move the tortoise.

Can I move a gopher turtle?

No, in order to relocate gopher tortoises you must obtain a relocation permit from the FWC, for each specified property, authorizing the capture and possession of gopher tortoises from or within that property.

What can I feed a gopher?

Gophers are herbivores who live on plants, flowers, and plant matter. They occasionally eat lettuce, carrots, and other vegetables, but they rarely eat seeds or fruits.