Citrus: Life in the slow lane

Life in the slow lane

By MIKE SCARANTINO

So the fable goes that the tortoise won the race. While the hare was faster, he outsmarted himself with overconfidence.

The two started the race with the tortoise methodically plodding forward. The hare on the other hand, feeling that the tortoise never could win, fell fast asleep alongside the course.

When he finally awoke, the hare moved with great speed, only to see the tortoise standing on the other side of the finish line resting comfortably. The morals of the story: Don't put off what can be done now, and never become overconfident.

Gopher tortoises are native to the southeastern United States and an integral part of the landscape in central and northern Florida. These land-based beings prefer the high and dry sandhill habitats for their sustenance.

In this habitat, they represent a keystone species with many other animals dependent on them for their survival. The tortoise's long, deep burrows -- some 30 feet or more -- provide shelter for 350 different species of animals, including bobcats and skunks.

Many rare species -- such as the eastern indigo snake, gopher frog and Florida mouse -- depend on those burrows for their survival. Some species simultaneously share the underground space with the tortoise.

Because of their vitality in the natural world, gopher tortoises need protection. Conservation of this species is crucial for the sandhill ecosystem. They require protection from poaching and suburban sprawl. As open range is reduced, many of these slow-moving beings need relocation. Many are being bulldozed into oblivion.

Some conservation people have gone to great lengths to relocate tortoises. The method is simple. Dig a small hole in the apron of a tortoise's burrow, and bury a bucket. When the tortoise comes or goes from it's burrow, it will fall into the bucket and get caught. From there, they can be safely relocated to more open spaces.

Anyone trying this should be extremely diligent in their efforts by checking the bucketoften. The gait of the tortoise normally is slow, barely accelerating past .27-.50 miles per hour. Perhaps their leisurely movements partly account for their relatively long life span. Some live as long as 40 years. Juveniles take 16-21 years to mature.

During their formative years, the upper shell of the juvenile tortoise is brown or tan with their growth rings being evident. As they mature, the rings become worn and less obvious.

Gopher tortoises fall into the category of animals known as herbivores. They spend most of their time foraging on low-lying grasses, herbs and plants. Occasionally they will feast on wild fruits and berries.

Tortoises live deliberately, burrowing, eating and procreating, yet they're secretive about the rearing of their young. So secretive are they that the mating behavior of tortoises isn't well documented. Males have been known to utter short raspy sounds to attract females. Fights between the two have been observed and may be related to the ritual courtship.

After mating in April and May, the female will lay up to seven eggs, which take 80 days to incubate. The young stay with mom or dig small burrows nearby. Many nests are lost to predators. Because of this, it may take 10 years for a female to have a successful clutch.

Being the benign species they are, tortoises inflict little negative impact in the ecosystem. Occasional damage to crops and the need and costs for relocation by developers are two that come to mind..

Mankind becomes an accidental predator to these creatures. Often you can see people stopped on roadways waiting patiently for them to cross. Some folks have taken the time and effort to help them from harms way by leaving their cars and carrying the tortoises from the road. This always should be done with the utmost caution.

One who has pursued this endeavor for many years is Edie-Jo Norman, a professional bowler and the proprietor of Mariner Lanes in Spring Hill. She has been called the turtle lady because she stops often to give assistance to tortoises experiencing traffic troubles. Some road warriors admire her efforts in giving aid. Others show their lack of support, honking and hollering as they pass.

"Always move tortoises in the direction they were originally headed," Norman said. "This way they won't re-cross the roadway. Remember also, they don't bite. They may piddle on you, but there's no harm in that. And, finally, if you see one who has gotten overturned by falling off of a curb, place them upright lest they die."

She misses one she got close to. Tommy resided in her yard. He met an untimely demise in a roadway collision, bringing Norman to tears. For all those who care, this one is for Tommy.