Gopher tortoise

Description:

12 to 15 inch land tortoise

Habitat:

Poorly maintained scrub habitat adjacent to residential road and neighborhood.

Notes:

Scrub habitat owned by Nature Conservancy and managed by City of Boynton Beach. Neighbors have removed much of the scrub while the tortoise nest remains in the open next to the road. The nest is 5 feet from the road. Entire area has been "skinned" of scrub vegetation. I have watched the site for a while to catch a glimpse of the tortoise. She/he was in the middle of the road and nearly hit by a motorist.