Help gopher tortoise conservation efforts with your smartphone

March 11, 2014

gophertortoiseBecome a citizen scientist!

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) needs your help documenting where gopher tortoises live. You can help by downloading and using the “Florida Gopher Tortoise” Smartphone application (app). With this app, you can record the location of gopher tortoises you may see in your yard, neighborhood, or crossing the road. This information will help FWC biologists better understand where populations of gopher tortoises live. The app also contains gopher tortoise information and a fun quiz to test your knowledge, learn more about this protected native Florida species, and help protect and conserve gopher tortoises.

All photos submitted to FWC of gopher tortoises or gopher tortoise burrows will be posted to an interactive map (coming soon). The map allows web visitors to zoom in and see where gopher tortoises occur in your neighborhood or community. The app user also has the option to provide observation notes when submitting a photo.

With your help, FWC will be able to better document where gopher tortoises are living within our Florida communities, and how we can work together to protect them.

The app is free and available for both iPhone and Android.