Today, gopher tortoises face danger from habitat destruction and Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) which is highly contagious. According to FWC the best way to reduce the spread of URTD into other wild populations is to leave tortoises where they are. The FWC says if you help a tortoise that is crossing a road, move it in the direction it is heading, then leave it there (do not transport the animal to another area).
My original gopher tortoise art, “Gopher Tortoise in Palmettos” is 36 x 24″ on canvas, and depicts a Florida gopher tortoise searching for saw palmetto berries. Thanks for your interest in my work, and I hope you enjoy the beauty of Florida wildlife.