A typical Gopher Tortoise burrow in a Pine upland forest. Photo source- Creative Commons

Gopher Tortoises are, like the habitats in which they dwell, dependent upon periodic fires. When fire is suppressed, small trees, shrubs, and brambles begin to grow making it difficult for the gopher tortoise to move around and eventually shade out the low growing plants that gopher tortoises eat.

The biggest threat to these amazing animals is development. Humans also love building their homes on the high, dry soils of the uplands areas. Tortoises lose their habitat, food sources, and burrows when an area gets covered with houses, roads, businesses, and infrastructure.

They are slow to reach sexual maturity with females not ready to reproduce for 9-21 years. Breeding happens in April-November and nests are built May-June usually within their burrows.

In competing for mates, male gopher tortoises have been known to ram and push each other, and do a lot of head bobbing and pooping; they may even try to flip each other over. Even females may threaten each other with head bobbing. Females have been known to compete for space and will even run off another Tortoise that it feels is too close to its burrow.

Check out this video of Gopher Tortoises doing battle with each other, most likely in a conflict over a mate!