Having a gopher tortoise living in your yard or on your property is a great opportunity to learn more about this unique species. Do not block the entrance to the burrow, fence it in, or otherwise impede the animal’s movements. It is illegal to possess a gopher tortoise without a permit or to have a gopher tortoise as a pet. Do not allow children or pets to disturb the tortoise or its burrow. If possible, avoid mowing, digging, driving over or otherwise disturbing the area right around the burrow. Trimming of grass or weeds right around the burrow can be done using a weed trimmer. Do not drive over the burrow, as this could cause the burrow to collapse and entomb the tortoise.

If you are observing someone harming a gopher tortoise then you should immediately contact Operation GameWatch. Gopher tortoises are a state protected species in the eastern portion of their AL range and federally protected in Mobile, Washington, and Choctaw counties. Operation GameWatch is a program designed to stop wildlife and fish law violators in Alabama. Citizen involvement is and always has been the key to its success. Please report poachers and wildlife violators and help protect Alabama's natural resources. Call 1-800-272-GAME (4263) to report wildlife violators. Calling is easy, fast and completely confidential!

The more information, the better. Try to provide the following information if you can:

• Name and description of suspects
• Vehicle or boat description if applicable
• License plate or boat registration number if applicable
• Clothing description
• Time of your observation
• Area being poached or where violation is occurring
• Patterns you observed

In Alabama, only the gopher tortoise itself is protected by the Protected Nongame Species Regulation 220-2-.92. If a tortoise is found on someone else’s property, meaning not the property you own, there really is not much we can do since the tortoise’s burrow is not protected by regulation in the eastern portion of the Alabama range. However, if the burrow is in Mobile, Washington, or Choctaw counties where the gopher tortoise is under federal protection, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Ecological Services Office in Daphne at 251.441.5181. With that being said, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, Nongame Wildlife Program wants to partner with landowners / developers to find solutions where both the landowner and tortoise benefit creating a conservation success story.

Join the citizen science project as found in iNaturalist. The purpose of this project is to collect location information on the gopher tortoise to help supplement current surveying efforts and enhance our understanding of the distribution of gopher tortoises in Alabama. Each observation should be documented using iNaturalist with a “research grade “ observation (i.e. property identified, photo or audio vouchered). To increase the value of your observations, please indicate the spatial accuracy and include additional comments. Ideally, we would like data on how many individuals were observed, evidence of reproduction, condition and extent of habitat, and any potential threats in the area.

If you have specific questions call the Alabama DCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Nongame Wildlife Program at 334.242.3469.

Do not try to care for the tortoise yourself. If the tortoise is ill, do not attempt to relocate it as this could spread disease to other tortoises and puts the animal under stress. If you find an injured gopher tortoise, you should locate a wildlife rehabilitator that accepts turtles by visiting Outdoor Alabama. This list is updated as new permits are reviewed and approved. In Alabama, Wildlife Rehabilitators are specifically permitted by the Alabama DCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to care for native game and nongame animals with the goal of eventual release. Wildlife rehabilitators provide a service for the public by prescribing an appropriate and humane course of action for wildlife in need. It is your responsibility to get the animal to the rehabilitator. If you have questions call 334.242.3469.

No, you cannot keep a gopher tortoise as a pet in Alabama. Gopher tortoises are state protected (Protected Nongame Species Regulation 220-2-.92) in the eastern portion (east of the Tombigbee and Mobile rivers) and federally protected (Threatened under the Endangered Species Act) in Mobile, Washington, and Choctaw counties.

As for the shell, you cannot be in possession of a gopher tortoise shell without a permit from Alabama DCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Nongame Wildlife Program. If you have questions call 334.242.3469 and ask to be transferred to protected species permitting.

If you find a lone gopher tortoise in an area, within the species Alabama range and after brief inspection you do not notice a burrow near the tortoise then it is best to leave it be. Tortoises can travel long distances in search of favorite food and mates and are best left alone as it could also be headed back to its burrow. Both small and large gopher tortoise burrows are sometimes difficult to see from a quick glance as they can be covered by plants like grasses, blackberries, palm fronds, etc. making it difficult to detect.

If you find a tortoise crossing a road, you can help it across by placing it in the direction that it was headed. If you try to move it to the side that it came from or to a new location, it will most likely try to cross the road again to get back to where it was. Never put yourself or others in danger trying to help a tortoise across a busy road.

Gopher tortoises can be common in suburban areas in southern Alabama. If a gopher tortoise is living in your yard, take the opportunity to learn about a protected species, how to conserve it, and share the information with family, friends, and neighbors. Here are a few tips:

• Gopher tortoises graze naturally on a wide variety of plants, including broadleaf grasses, wiregrass, prickly pear cactus, wild grape, blackberry, blueberry, beautyberry and many more.
• They generally feed within 160 feet of their burrows but have been known to travel more than twice that distance to meet their foraging and nutritional needs.
• Grow plants native to Alabama in your yard, since nonnative plants can be harmful to Alabama’s biodiversity. Many native plants will blend in beautifully with your landscaping and attract other native species of birds and butterflies. 
• Leave the tortoise alone and keep dogs and children away from the tortoise and its burrow.
• If possible, avoid mowing, digging, driving over or otherwise disturbing the area right around the burrow. Trimming of grass or weeds right around the burrow can be done using a weed trimmer.
• Never block the burrow opening which could prevent the tortoises exit or entrance.
• Join a citizen science project … iNaturalist project. The purpose of this project is to collect location information on the gopher tortoise to help supplement current surveying efforts and enhance our understanding of the distribution of gopher tortoises in Alabama.
• Each observation should be documented using iNaturalist with a “research” grade observation (i.e. property identified, photo or audio vouchered). To increase the value of your observations, please indicate the spatial accuracy and include additional comments. Ideally, we would like data on how many individuals were observed, evidence of reproduction, condition and extent of habitat, and any potential threats in the area.
• Visit the Alabama Gopher Tortoise Project page and the Gopher Tortoise Resource page.
• Host a Gopher Tortoise Day at work, in your community, or school to increase awareness (Gopher Tortoise Day is April 10 th or the week of April 10^th annually)
• Support Alabama DCNR, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries programs and land acquisitions to protect and conserve wildlife habitat.
• Purchase a Natural Heritage License. License monies are used to manage and conserve wildlife habitat including gopher tortoise habitat.
• If you fill out tax forms and are due a refund, check the Nongame Tax Check-off box. Again, these monies are used to manage and conserve wildlife habitat including gopher tortoise habitat.