- Joined
- Aug 12, 2002
- Messages
- 767
I was in Tallahassee, Florida for a couple days this week. I had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport, so I took a quick drive to Torreya State Park. I didn't have much time so I hit one of their one hour trails. I headed down the trail in hopes of seeing some invertebrates. On the way down the trail I noticed what looked like an old tortoise burrow. I thought to myself how great it would be to actually see a gopher tortoise in the wild. I ambled along all the while swatting at swarms of mosquitos, biting flies, and a myriad of other bitey things.
I saw a few spiders, a couple skinks, and several anoles before heading back to the car. Once in the car I made my stop at the turnoff to the main road, looked left and then GAWKED left. A tortoise was sitting smack dab in the middle of the road.
My heart sank as I thought it had been hit. I parked the car and walked over to it. I noticed he was not hit! He was alive and well. I managed to snap a few photos of him as he moseyed along. I really wish I could have taken some nicer photos rather than this photo of him out in the harsh light. I did not want to disturb it at all though.
I stopped and stared as it turned and walked along the grass shoulder parallel with the road. I nervously watched him as he walked alongside the road for several meters. I was worried he was going to head back onto the road. It soon made an about face and rumbled off into the brush. I walked back towards where the ranger station to let them know I saw a tortoise. I waved a ranger down and he said they actually had quite a few in the area.
I could not stop smiling the entire ride back to the airport. What a sighting! That gopher definitely made my trip.
I saw a few spiders, a couple skinks, and several anoles before heading back to the car. Once in the car I made my stop at the turnoff to the main road, looked left and then GAWKED left. A tortoise was sitting smack dab in the middle of the road.
My heart sank as I thought it had been hit. I parked the car and walked over to it. I noticed he was not hit! He was alive and well. I managed to snap a few photos of him as he moseyed along. I really wish I could have taken some nicer photos rather than this photo of him out in the harsh light. I did not want to disturb it at all though.
I stopped and stared as it turned and walked along the grass shoulder parallel with the road. I nervously watched him as he walked alongside the road for several meters. I was worried he was going to head back onto the road. It soon made an about face and rumbled off into the brush. I walked back towards where the ranger station to let them know I saw a tortoise. I waved a ranger down and he said they actually had quite a few in the area.
I could not stop smiling the entire ride back to the airport. What a sighting! That gopher definitely made my trip.
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