The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is the only native tortoise found east of the Mississippi River. It is a keystone species because the deep burrows it digs are habitat for hundreds of other animals, including the gopher frog and the Eastern indigo snake. Determining if a burrow is currently in use is a primary step in land management and conservation, given the tortoise’s protected status. An active burrow is one most likely occupied, requiring careful observation to distinguish it from inactive or abandoned sites.
Immediate Visual Signs of Current Use
The most direct indicator of recent activity is the appearance of the sand apron, the semicircular mound of soil excavated at the burrow’s entrance. A burrow is active if this apron is freshly dug, appearing as a low mound of bare, loose sand. The entrance is distinctively shaped, often wider than it is tall, resembling a half-moon that accommodates the tortoise’s carapace.
Another sign is the presence of distinct, three-toed tracks on the apron leading in or out of the burrow opening. Gopher tortoise tracks are relatively flat and wide, visible on the bare soil only if the tortoise has passed by recently. Fresh scat, or feces, near the entrance also confirms recent occupancy. This scat appears as small, firm, dried pellets or cigar-like pieces that often contain fragments of digested grass.
An active entrance is generally clean and clear of debris, indicating the tortoise regularly maintains the burrow. The tortoise pushes out leaf litter, sticks, and other foreign objects, keeping the entrance clear for movement. Conversely, heavy leaf litter, spiderwebs, or thick vegetation across the opening suggests the burrow is at least temporarily inactive.
Confirming Occupancy Over Time
Since tortoises spend up to 80% of their time underground, a lack of immediate visual signs does not mean the burrow is empty. To confirm longer-term occupancy, field observers sometimes place a light layer of natural debris, such as pine needles or small twigs, loosely across the burrow opening. If this material is disturbed or pushed aside when checked 24 to 48 hours later, it suggests the tortoise has entered or exited the burrow.
Seasonal changes affect a tortoise’s activity level and presence at the burrow mouth. Tortoises are less active during the extreme heat of summer and cold spells of winter, making visual confirmation of activity more difficult. Surveys conducted during peak feeding and basking times (late morning to mid-afternoon in moderate temperatures) offer the highest chance of observing a tortoise or fresh signs.
For professional land surveys, specialized tools are used to check for the tortoise. A burrow camera, or “scope,” is inserted into the tunnel to visually confirm presence or absence. While this method confirms occupancy with high certainty, it is performed by trained biologists and is often required for environmental assessments.
Gopher Tortoise Protection and Next Steps
The gopher tortoise is a protected species throughout its range. It is state-listed as Threatened in states like Florida and federally listed as Threatened in the western part of its range. This protection status extends to the burrow, which is considered protected habitat.
It is illegal to harass, harm, handle, or relocate a gopher tortoise or to disturb, collapse, or destroy an active burrow without state-issued permits. This protection is extended due to the presence of commensal species that rely on the burrow for shelter. Disturbing the tunnel risks harming not just the tortoise, but the community of animals that depend on it.
If an active burrow is identified on a property intended for development or land alteration, the landowner must stop work near the site. The next step is to contact the state’s wildlife management agency (such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FWC) to initiate the permitting process. This process ensures the tortoise is captured and relocated by a licensed agent to an approved recipient site before ground disturbance occurs.