IRLNews:2020/03/30/Florida Gopher Tortoise Awareness Day on April 10th
Gopher tortoises are charming creatures that are classified as state-threatened in Florida, primarily due to habitat loss. The gopher tortoise is vital to our Florida ecosystems, as it digs burrows that provide shelter for over 350 native species. The Gopher Tortoise Council declared April 10th as Gopher Tortoise Day to raise awareness for this remarkable reptile.
There are many ways that YOU can help conserve this keystone species on its special day and throughout the year!
Host a Gopher Tortoise Day event to raise appreciation. At your event, you can distribute materials found on the Gopher Tortoise Day website to help attendees learn how to help gopher tortoises and the habitats they live in.
Volunteer at a local park to improve gopher tortoise habitat by picking up trash, removing invasive plants, or planting native plants.
Organize hands-on activities for kids using the materials found on the Gopher Tortoise Day website. The website includes gopher tortoise coloring pages, a taxonomic matching game, gopher tortoise hats and masks, and even an interactive gopher tortoise burrow. You can even design Gopher Tortoise Day T-shirts for your event!
Install gopher tortoise-friendly signs where tortoises frequent to increase awareness. Make sure to receive permission from property owners first.
Become a volunteer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to help conserve these gentile reptiles!
Participate in a wildlife appreciation festival. You can request a local gopher tortoise expert from the FWC to give a presentation at the event. Email GTevents@MyFWC.com to see if someone is available to attend.
Plan native plants in your yard or neighborhood using the Florida Guide to Gopher Tortoise Friendly Plants.
Become a citizen scientist by utilizing the Florida Gopher Tortoise smartphone app to catalog gopher tortoises seen in your community.
Encourage kids to develop an appreciation for nature and gopher tortoises by using the Gopher Tortoise Field Trip Guide.
Visit the Get Involved page for more ideas on how to bask in the glory of Gopher Tortoise Day. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, make sure to share all your shell-ebrations on social media or invite local news media to your event! Sample social media posts and press releases can be located on the Media page of the Gopher Tortoise Day website. Remember to promote your posts by using #GopherTortoiseDay!
Celebrating Gopher Tortoise Day is one way to help tortoises in your community, but many of these activities can be done year-round to benefit this important species!
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