Re: Lucky Gopher Tort meets Giovanni..(PIC)

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Posted by Dan on June 02, 2001 at 15:53:41:

In Reply to: Lucky Gopher Tort meets Giovanni..(PIC) posted by Giovanni on June 02, 2001 at 12:17:12:

: This fine little specimen was lucky enough to be crossing I-4 in Orlando, when I was heading by.

: It's about 7 inches long and in tremendous health by appearance as well as the excrement.

: I'm releasing it in a huge area where alot of them live, just down the street from me and away from the highway. Thought you folks would like to see it.

: Ciao'

: Giovanni

Giovanni -

I hope you're not releasing it up in Jax. Gophers do not fair well when released away from "home" even if home is next to an Interstate.

Most gopher relocation attempts have failed because they don't stay in the new place - they try to get home and end up squashed on the intervening roads.

It is also likely that movement of tortoises has been responsible for the spread of URTD across Florida. Research by the game commission has shown that areas where tortoises were traditionally released - i.e. protected areas like parks - have high rates of the disease. The commission has passed new guidelines for tortoise relocation that require a blood test for URTD before animals can be moved offsite. The early stages of URTD are very hard to detect externally, and animals may carry the mycoplasma that causes the disease without showing any symptoms.

Releasing tortoises into existing populations not only can spread URTD, but most areas with tortoises don't need additional animals added. Adding strange animals can stress a population that is already near carrying capacity. Gophers are very social animals and probably recognize strange and familiar animals.

When rescuing gophers from the road, the best thing is to place them on the side of the road they were headed towards, and let them take care of themselves. Unless the animal has been moved by someone else and is lost, it probably knows where it is and where it's going.

- Dan

Follow Ups:

Re: All true a vaild points Dan Giovanni 06/02/01 (2)
- Re: "and" I meant Giovanni 06/02/01 (1)
  - Re: "and" I meant Dan 06/03/01 (0)

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: : This fine little specimen was lucky enough to be crossing I-4 in Orlando, when I was heading by. : : It's about 7 inches long and in tremendous health by appearance as well as the excrement. : : I'm releasing it in a huge area where alot of them live, just down the street from me and away from the highway. Thought you folks would like to see it. : : Ciao' : : Giovanni : Giovanni - : : I hope you're not releasing it up in Jax. Gophers do not fair well when released away from "home" even if home is next to an Interstate. : Most gopher relocation attempts have failed because they don't stay in the new place - they try to get home and end up squashed on the intervening roads. : It is also likely that movement of tortoises has been responsible for the spread of URTD across Florida. Research by the game commission has shown that areas where tortoises were traditionally released - i.e. protected areas like parks - have high rates of the disease. The commission has passed new guidelines for tortoise relocation that require a blood test for URTD before animals can be moved offsite. The early stages of URTD are very hard to detect externally, and animals may carry the mycoplasma that causes the disease without showing any symptoms. : Releasing tortoises into existing populations not only can spread URTD, but most areas with tortoises don't need additional animals added. Adding strange animals can stress a population that is already near carrying capacity. Gophers are very social animals and probably recognize strange and familiar animals. : When rescuing gophers from the road, the best thing is to place them on the side of the road they were headed towards, and let them take care of themselves. Unless the animal has been moved by someone else and is lost, it probably knows where it is and where it's going. : - Dan

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