Gopher tortoise returns to the wild…

By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital

A gopher tortoise receives a physical exam after being admitted to the von Arx Wildilfe Hospital at the Conservancy.

A gopher tortoise was among the 87 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week. Other admissions include an eastern screech owl, a common ground dove, a great blue heron, a striped mud turtle and a black racer.

A woman called the wildlife hospital to confirm that it was illegal to take a gopher tortoise from the wild to keep as a pet. Hospital staff confirmed that she was correct, it is illegal. Originally the woman’s ex-husband had mentioned he got their kids a baby sulcata tortoise. When her kids showed her the tortoise she was immediately concerned because she believed it was a gopher tortoise, not a sulcata. As her kids gave her more information it was revealed that the ex-husband had found the tortoise and had decided to keep it as a pet.

The woman brought the tortoise to the hospital so we could ensure it was healthy and return it to the wild. While her actions upset her son and caused a difficult situation with her ex-husband, the woman absolutely did the right thing by bringing the tortoise to the wildlife hospital. We are incredibly grateful she made the well-being of the tortoise her priority.

Please, never keep a wild animal as a pet. Wild animals have specialized nutritional and husbandry requirements and without proper care and appropriate food they will suffer. The stress put on a wild animal in a captive situation can be incredibly debilitating and is often fatal. Also, only certain species of wildlife can be kept once the proper permits from the state and federal government are obtained; with all other species it is illegal to take them from the wild.

Finally, and most importantly, many wild animals carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. For your own safety and health — let wildlife live free in the wild.

If you find a wild animal and are concerned for its safety, call the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. We will evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action.

Recent Releases — 24 Animals Returned Home

  • 1 gopher tortoise
  • 2 Virginia opossums
  • 4 eastern cottontails
  • 2 killdeer
  • 1 blue jay
  • 1 red-bellied woodpecker
  • 6 Northern mockingbirds
  • 1 Florida red-bellied turtle
  • 1 Florida softshell turtle
  • 1 morning dove
  • 1 barred owl
  • 1 common grackle
  • 1 eastern screech owl
  • 1 peninsula cooter

Opportunities to Help

Please visit the Conservancy website at to view all of the amazing volunteer opportunities at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Your volunteer time, donations, and memberships are vital in helping us continue our work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.

Joanna Fitzgerald is director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Call 239–262–2273 or see conservancy.org

A week inside the von Arx Wildlife Hospital

Weekly blog from Joanna Fitzgerald, director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital.

Conservancy of SWFL

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Protecting Southwest Florida's unique natural environment and quality of life...now and forever.

A week inside the von Arx Wildlife Hospital

Weekly blog from Joanna Fitzgerald, director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital.

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