7/1/25 @ 9:15 a.m.
This week for Turtle Talk Tuesday, we’re highlighting an important topic: the difference between sea turtles and gopher tortoises. Well-meaning animal lovers sometimes confuse the two, which can sadly cause more harm than good. Following several drowning incidents around the state, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued warnings that gopher tortoises will drown if placed in water — especially the ocean.
Unlike sea turtles, which spend most of their lives in the ocean, gopher tortoises live on land in sandy burrows — often near beach dunes. These burrows maintain stable temperatures and humidity year-round, protecting the tortoise from extreme heat, cold, drought, and fire. Gopher tortoises do not swim and get their hydration from the plants they eat and rainwater they drink. Occasionally, you may see a tortoise near the water’s edge to cool off or remove ticks. If left alone, they’ll return to their burrows on their own. If you see a gopher tortoise on the beach, do not interfere with its natural behavior.
How can you tell them apart?
Because gopher tortoises are a protected species in Florida, it is illegal to handle or relocate them without a valid FWC permit. The only exception is moving a tortoise safely out of a roadway, always placing it in the same direction it was heading. Never take a tortoise to a different location or put it in your car — this is considered illegal possession. And remember: never put a gopher tortoise in the water. They cannot swim!
Finally, if you find a turtle in distress, the safest choice is to contact the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) so trained experts can help.
Let’s all do our part to protect our turtles and tortoises! 💚🐢🌊
-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer
This week for Turtle Talk Tuesday, we’re highlighting an important topic: the difference between sea turtles and gopher tortoises. Well-meaning animal lovers sometimes confuse the two, which can sadly cause more harm than good. Following several drowning incidents around the state, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued warnings that gopher tortoises will drown if placed in water — especially the ocean.
Unlike sea turtles, which spend most of their lives in the ocean, gopher tortoises live on land in sandy burrows — often near beach dunes. These burrows maintain stable temperatures and humidity year-round, protecting the tortoise from extreme heat, cold, drought, and fire. Gopher tortoises do not swim and get their hydration from the plants they eat and rainwater they drink. Occasionally, you may see a tortoise near the water’s edge to cool off or remove ticks. If left alone, they’ll return to their burrows on their own. If you see a gopher tortoise on the beach, do not interfere with its natural behavior.
How can you tell them apart?
- Gopher Tortoises: Stumpy, elephant-like feet with toes and claws for digging; an oblong shell.
- Sea Turtles: Long, paddle-like flippers for swimming and moving sand; a broad shell near the head that tapers at the back, shaped like a heart.
Because gopher tortoises are a protected species in Florida, it is illegal to handle or relocate them without a valid FWC permit. The only exception is moving a tortoise safely out of a roadway, always placing it in the same direction it was heading. Never take a tortoise to a different location or put it in your car — this is considered illegal possession. And remember: never put a gopher tortoise in the water. They cannot swim!
Finally, if you find a turtle in distress, the safest choice is to contact the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) so trained experts can help.
Let’s all do our part to protect our turtles and tortoises! 💚🐢🌊
-Sabrina Robertson
Communications Officer
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