Re: gopher tortoise relocation?

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Posted by Giovanni on April 04, 2002 at 21:50:22:

In Reply to: gopher tortoise relocation? posted by Tom on April 04, 2002 at 14:35:01:

: Live in Orlando, Fl. Found a gopher tortoise today walking along a busy road where I work. Not the first time I've picked one up, mind you. I brought it to a local park by my house and asked if I could release it there. The ranger responded that each 'colony' carries its own disease and didn't want me to release it in that park. Of course, I obliged, but now I'm wondering what would be best for my little buddy. I feel he faces a certain death should I release him where I found him. But, do tortoises, being territorial, fare well being relocated?

Don't know about them bringing a new disease to a new colony, but chances are they will bring the disease (besides the development burials)that is killing them off to a new colony, and that is URTD (or upper respiratory track disease). They are trying to figure out in Gainesville how they are getting it.

If you keep it and you have other tortoises, as healthy as it may look you may be in for impending doom. A neighbor of mine has one and a sulcata, they are both yearlings. She picked it up from a colony behind the sub division I live in and told me about it, I said to her that it would probably be a good idea to release it. She said she was not aware of the law. 5 months later she came to my door frantic, the gopher and her sulcata had stopped eating and had all this running stuff coming out of their noses and were blowing bubble...suspect? Now this is a major problem here because she cannot take that tortoise to the vet or they will report her. I told her again to release it and treat the sulcata, I do not know the out come. Do yourself a favor and put it back where you found it, whether it becomes victum to a tire a payloader or a horrible disease is unfortunately in the cards for this species. It is very very sad.

Ciao'

Giovanni

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: : Live in Orlando, Fl. Found a gopher tortoise today walking along a busy road where I work. Not the first time I've picked one up, mind you. I brought it to a local park by my house and asked if I could release it there. The ranger responded that each 'colony' carries its own disease and didn't want me to release it in that park. Of course, I obliged, but now I'm wondering what would be best for my little buddy. I feel he faces a certain death should I release him where I found him. But, do tortoises, being territorial, fare well being relocated? : Don't know about them bringing a new disease to a new colony, but chances are they will bring the disease (besides the development burials)that is killing them off to a new colony, and that is URTD (or upper respiratory track disease). They are trying to figure out in Gainesville how they are getting it. : If you keep it and you have other tortoises, as healthy as it may look you may be in for impending doom. A neighbor of mine has one and a sulcata, they are both yearlings. She picked it up from a colony behind the sub division I live in and told me about it, I said to her that it would probably be a good idea to release it. She said she was not aware of the law. 5 months later she came to my door frantic, the gopher and her sulcata had stopped eating and had all this running stuff coming out of their noses and were blowing bubble...suspect? Now this is a major problem here because she cannot take that tortoise to the vet or they will report her. I told her again to release it and treat the sulcata, I do not know the out come. Do yourself a favor and put it back where you found it, whether it becomes victum to a tire a payloader or a horrible disease is unfortunately in the cards for this species. It is very very sad. : Ciao' : Giovanni

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