Gopher Tortoise Education Resources

A Landowner's Guide: Managing habitat for gopher tortoises contains information and resources for managing gopher tortoise habitat.

A guide to living with gopher tortoises contains information on the importance of gopher tortoise in Florida and what to do if you encounter one.

Una guía para vivir con Tortugas de tierra contiene información sobre la importancia de la tortuga de tierra en Florida y lo que debe hacer si encuentra una.

Before you build contains information about what landowners should know about gopher tortoises before breaking ground on construction activities.

Antes de construir contiene información sobre lo que todo propietario debe saber sobre las tortugas gopher antes de empezar a construir.

Got Gophers? Get Permits. Has been revamped and distributed to local governments in Florida. You can also help by printing and posting this 8 ½ x 14 size poster in your office or neighborhood.

The Longleaf Alliance also offers an educational poster that depicts many of the plants and animals that could be encountered on a stroll through the longleaf pine forest, one habitat in which the gopher tortoise can be found.

The gopher tortoise is one of FWC's Featured Critters. The Featured Creature collection includes species-specific information and photos and was developed with the idea of increasing awareness among Floridians.

The Pine Ecosystem Conservation Handbook for the Gopher Tortoise in Florida is part of an initiative of the American Forest Foundation's Center for Conservation Solutions that brings together conservation partners and family forest owners to conserve and create forest habitat for the gopher tortoise and other declining wildlife of the southern pine forest.

The Gopher Tortoise: At Home in Florida's Forests includes information on how private forest owners can participate in gopher tortoise conservation. Florida Forests (Spring/Summer 2008) published by The Florida Forestry Association.

The Gopher Tortoise, by Zander Srodes. This children's activity book, reprinted by FWC in February 2009, is an educational activity book that introduces the life history and ecological significance of the gopher tortoise to young audiences.

Gopher Tracks, by Susan Jane Ryan. This 62-page book is most appropriate for fourth-graders and up. The book introduces gopher tortoise ecology, the role of fire in upland habitats, and the importance of environmental stewardship through the adventures of two girls, Tamika and Diana.

Teaching About Gopher Tortoises: Protection and Natural History provides Facilitator's curriculum for training environmental educators.

Encounters with Gopher Tortoises: Protection and Natural History provides curriculum and activities to educators in Florida.

Both curriculums were created for FWC by Ray and Patricia Ashton and meet Florida's Sunshine State Standards. The curriculum is available in DVD format upon request from FWC by calling 850-921-1030.

The following coloring sheets were created for the Gopher Tortoise Council and are provided by FWC for download and duplication.

• Gopher Tortoise coloring page 
• Burrow and Commensals coloring page 
• Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake coloring page 
• Gopher Frog coloring page 
• Gilbert the Gopher Tortoise Coloring Book

Grant opportunities are posted to the Gopher Tortoise Council's website frequently. Please check back for future opportunities as they are available.

If you have a funding opportunity available for gopher tortoise education or research and would like for us to include the information on our website, please send the announcement to [email protected].