Stay in the know about wildlife, water quality, and ecosystems on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and in Southwest Florida
Making a Difference for Island Gopher Tortoises
SCCF’s Gopher Tortoise Habitat Enhancement project is in full swing, helping enhance habitat for this keystone species! This project supports our existing gopher tortoise monitoring program by creating more suitable habitat with a helping hand from our island community.
The program launched on Oct. 30 with a project talk by SCCF Biologist Mike Mills highlighting the fascinating history and ecology of gopher tortoises on Sanibel, from their diet, range, and habitat to their important role in our ecosystem. He also explained the impacts to gopher tortoise populations from recent hurricanes and the scope of the enhancement project.
Soon after the talk, SCCF’s Coastal Watch got to work organizing our weekly volunteer events for this project. Volunteers have been hard at work clearing invasive plant species and overgrown vegetation from our C.R. Johnson Preserve. Our Habitat Enhancement Project focuses on improving the open, sandy upland environments that gopher tortoises rely on for burrowing, nesting, and foraging.
Since the project kickoff, volunteers have already begun transforming these habitats, clearing and enhancing large sections of land on the preserve. Volunteer events are held every Thursday through March from 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Our long-term goal for this project is to establish these areas as a designated recipient site for gopher tortoises that need to be relocated. With the help of our volunteers that goal is becoming closer to a reality with each volunteer event.
Guided Gopher Tortoise Walks
See our staff and volunteers’ hard work in action! Join us for an interactive guided walk as part of the Gopher Tortoise Habitat Enhancement Project. These walks are led by SCCF wildlife biologists and education staff. Participants will explore one of SCCF’s preserves to learn firsthand about the unique role gopher tortoises play in our ecosystem and the local efforts to protect this state-threatened species.
These guided walks will be held once a month from January through March, starting on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 22.