AND WE ALSO HOPE THAT SHE’S AN EXAMPLE FOR ANYBODY ELSE THAT THOUGHT ABOUT PAINTING A GOPHER TORTOISE TO NOT DO IT AGAIN. IT’S BEEN HOURS UPON HOURS OF WORK TO GET HER BACK TO A SOMEWHAT ...

As this keystone species' name suggests, the gopher tortoise is an expert at living underground — like a gopher. Gopher tortoises have shovel-like front legs and strong, thick back legs to help them ...

However, Dormio wanted more than just to paint—she wanted to educate, whether it’s a sea turtle swimming among trash, a gopher tortoise being pushed out of its habitat, or a manatee injured by ...

More than a month after being found covered in nail polish, a gopher tortoise at the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center is nearly free of the harmful coating and is preparing to return to the wild.

“And we hope she’s an example for others who might think about painting a gopher tortoise to not do it.” The center expects to release her back into the wild by the end of the week.