Big Lots is one of the Gopher Tortoises at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary and has been with us for many years. Under Florida law, Gopher Tortoises cannot be relocated without proper permitting. The Gopher Tortoises at the Sanctuary have been brought here for various reasons and it was deemed best to keep them on property.
Gopher Tortoises are found throughout Florida in mostly upland habitats. These tortoises dig deep burrows for shelter, and more than 350 other species will use these burrows, too. The Gopher Tortoise is considered a Keystone Species because its environmental impact is so significant that its survival is critical to the health of the ecosystems where it lives.
Gopher tortoises are land animals that cannot swim and are likely to drown if placed in water, even though they can be found in dunes near the ocean.
