Today we went to the San Felasco Hammock and the Hawthorne Trail to enjoy the gorgeous Memorial Day weather. We are always delighted with the sights and today was no exception. We spotted not one, not two, but THREE gopher tortoises. Gopher tortoises belong to a group of land tortoises that originated in western North America nearly 60 million years ago. Only four species remain today - three are found in the western United States and northern Mexico. Only the gopher tortoise occurs east of the Mississippi River. They prefer dry, sandy, upland habitat.The gopher tortoise is a listed threatened species... mostly due to loss of habitat. However, armadillos are a known predator of gopher tortoise nests.... hmmmm... Mu Shu Armadillo anyone?
Enjoying some scrub plants for dinner in Paynes Prairie.....
A burrow (they can run up to 40 ft in length and 10 ft deep and provide shelter for lots of other animals).....
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