Turtle Conservation Initiative
Gopher Tortoise
The Gopher Tortoise may be one of the most important species in sandhill ecosystesm. The Gopher Tortoise digs burrows in sandy soil; these burrows in turn offer refuge to over 300 other species, including quail, mice, rabbits, Burrowing Owls, Eastern Indigo Snakes, and the elusive Gopher Frog. Because of the vast array of cohabitants that use the burrows, the Gopher Torotise has earned the title of a keystone species in sandhill ecosystems...
Bog Turtle
The Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) is the smallest turtle species in North America, reaching only 4.5 inches in maximum carapace length, though shell lengths typically average between 3 and 4 inches. Bog Turtles are characterized by their small size, dark coloration, and large yellow to orange blotches on both sides of the head. These blotches vary in coloration from yellow, yellow-orange, orange, and orange-red from population to population. Bog Turtles have a black, brown, or mahogany colored carapace and an unhinged plastron that is typically black with yellow or cream colored spots along the midline...
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