Our Resident Tortoise at Blue Dolphin

Did you know that over 67% of the land on Sanibel Island is protected as conservation land?

That’s a HUGE part of the reason why almost every visit to Sanibel includes some type of uncommon wildlife sighting. Think manatees, dolphins, river otters, armadillos, alligators, bobcats, coyotes, sea turtles, smalltooth sawfish, and over 240 species of birds!

One wildlife sighting that is very common at the Blue Dolphin is our neighborhood’s resident gopher tortoise.

This tenacious tortoise is often spotted on its daily trips back and forth across West Gulf Drive.

The gopher tortoise is considered a “keystone species”. This is a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend on. In fact, gopher tortoise burrows are home to over 350 species. As such, the appearance of gopher tortoises is an important indicator of the health of the local ecosystem.

We are protective of our gopher tortoises on Sanibel. Part of the reason is that estimates indicate a population decline of about 60-80 percent over the last century, primarily due to reduced habitat from increasing development. Because of this, the gopher tortoise is listed as threatened species and is protected by the state of Florida.

Sanibel sustains and protects a sizeable population of gopher tortoises, which inhabit conservation lands, residential neighborhoods and commercial properties. Due to the upland habitat requirements of the gopher tortoise and potential conflicts with human development activities, gopher tortoises and their habitats on Sanibel have been afforded additional protections.

Sanibel residents and visitors also are encouraged to keep a watchful eye for gopher tortoises while traveling across Sanibel by vehicle, bicycle, or on foot. If you happen to see a gopher tortoise crossing a road, pick it up and place it on the roadside in the direction it was heading, but only if it is safe for you to do so.

And remember, the gopher tortoise is strictly a land animal. If you do help one across the road, be certain to just take it to the edge of the road and let it continue on — but do not release it into any body of water.

Learn More: mysanibel.com/Departments/Natural-Resources/Wildlife-Information/Gopher-Tortoises