Gopher Tortoise

This gopher tortoise was making his way through some pretty heavy growth in the Ocala National Forest.  Parts of the ONF have a higher density of these animals than any place I've ever been.  I always look for burrows because they can be homes to various snakes, including the eastern diamondback, and other small animals.

Gopher Tortoise

These slow moving animals are a real treat to watch.  Every spring my wife and I find ourselves stopping by the roadside to rescue these guys from the highway.  The thanks we get is usually some loudhissing and scrambling.   I've even had to rescue one that got stuck in the farm fence around my property.  I'm always looking for their burrows in the Ocala National Forest because there are a number of snakes, including the eastern diamondback that will share the premises.  I found this one wandering down the side of one of the clay roads in the ONF.  I followed him on foot for a while until he made a quick, well not that quick, left turn and disappeared into the scrub.