Keep South Carolina Wild

banner

Endangered Species Act: The Gopher tortoise

October 30, 2023

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act! Join us as we highlight species throughout the year that have benefited from this landmark legislation.

Did you know that we have a native tortoise species in South Carolina? The Gopher tortoise is the only species of tortoise found in the southeast and one of only four tortoise species found in the entire U.S.! They dig large underground burrows that hundreds of other animals use for shelter and protection from predators. Gopher tortoises play an important role in the ecosystem as a keystone species, and this makes the protection of this species critical to the entire food web.

Read more about the Gopher tortoise and efforts to protect this species here.

LitterSweep
Image Credit: Gopher tortoise by Renee Bodine.

Similar Stories

Default Image
SCWF’s WAIT Partner Event
November 11, 0202

SCWF’s Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) program is a partnership with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities...

KECK: Birds of a Feather
KECK: Birds of a Feather
June 18, 2021

By Jay Keck, Habitat Education Manager for Chapin Magazine Bird. Say it out loud. It’s not the most exciting word in our dictionary, but it represents one of the most...

Pro Birders to Sassafras Mountain
Pro Birders to Sassafras Mountain
May 03, 2017

Palmetto Pro Birders had a fantastic class last weekend with Instructor Tim Lee!  They hiked along the Foothills Trail and to the top of Sassafras Mountain, and learned to identify...