Gopher
Here's another critter I spotted at Oscar Scherer State Park today. This gopher tortoise dug his burrow right in the middle of the parking lot. So it was marked off with orange cones to keep people from driving over it and ruining all his hard work. Surprisingly, even with all of the hubbub around, he was still hanging out, just watching the world go by.
Ever wonder how a big boxy turtle like this dig a burrow? It's with claws like this on all four corners. These burrows can be pretty deep, too. Only problem is when it rains...
Does he look like he's smirking to you?
This is a subject dear to my heart. The housing boom really has put a hurtin' on the gopher tortoise. They are extremely territorial and won't be crammed in with each other into small ranges. As you found out though they can adapt to us, if given the chance. I have "rescued" or moved many off of roads and such. Good pictures.
ReplyDeletely should have mentioned this in the original post, but this is the second year in a row I've seen and photographed that same gopher. Or at least a gopher in the same hole.
ReplyDeletehttp://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2008/04/home-sweet-hole.html