Environmental group sues US Fish and Wildlife Service in hopes of protecting gopher tortoise

Share
Gopher tortoise like those found at Boyd Hill
Gopher tortoise. By FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (CC).

Listen:

The Gopher tortoise is a threatened species native to the southeastern US, and  The Center for Biological Diversity is suing the US Fish and Wildlife Service for denying the animal Endangered Species Act protections.

The gopher tortoise digs deep burrows for shelter.

Gopher tortoises share their burrows with more than 350 other species, and are therefore referred to as a keystone species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

However, Elise Bennett with the Center for Biological Diversity says the tortoise is facing threats.

“We have new roads being built every day, new developments in places that were once wild, and what that means in most places and particularly here in Florida is that these gopher tortoises are ousted from their habitats,”

She fears what would happen if more protections aren’t put in place.

“It really could be this cascading effect across our upland systems and so we really feel like protecting the tortoise when we know it’s in danger of extinction now could really help save not only the tortoise but these entire systems that are critical to the health of the southeast.”

She encourages concerned listeners to contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service and ask them for Endangered Species Act protections for the tortoise.

Wildlands Conservation is an environmental nonprofit organization in Tampa. They created a specialty license plate with a picture of the tortoise. Funds go towards saving the tortoise.

 

You may also like

Tropical Storm Rafael forms, watches issued for parts of Florida

Tropical Storm Rafael could reach category two hurricane status just...

Talking Animals: veteran advocate delivers anatomy of a victorious, major animal rights campaign

Jodie Wiederkehr, Executive Director of Chicago Alliance for Animals ...

Fascist violence and the truth laid bare

Commemorative in Ocoee, FL marking racist election day violence in...

The 2024 Veganic Summit with Meg Kelly

Join Anni and Tanja to discuss organic gardening, farming and...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Follow us on Instagram

The Waking Hours
Player position: