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Hundred Acre Hollows, Inc.

Nature preserve in Suntree / Melbourne, FL

Gopher Tortoises

A Keystone Species at Hundred Acre Hollows

Hundred Acre Hollows is home to 467 active gopher tortoise burrows. Helping maintain the habitat for these tortoises is a big part of our organization’s mission. The gopher tortoise is a burrowing animal. It is the state tortoise of Florida and is a threatened species. It is also a “keystone” species because over 360 different creatures depend on it for survival.  Other animals use the burrows, which average 15 feet long, for shelter from the heat, cold, or fire. These species include the Florida mouse, gopher frog, gopher cricket, burrowing owl, snakes, birds, insects, skunks, rabbits, raccoons, and armadillos. “The animals obtaining food, refuge and other benefits from its burrows are known as gopher tortoise commensal species. A healthy, widespread gopher tortoise population is necessary for commensal species populations to thrive.” (FWC)

The gopher tortoise lives in the southeast United States in scrub oak forests and pine flatwoods. The tortoise is a solitary animal. It lives alone or with the other species; two tortoises don’t live in the same burrow. Tortoises come out to eat, and the grass around an active burrow looks like it was mowed. They eat a wide variety of grass, leaves, fruits, saw palmetto berries, and legumes. Their favorite food is gopher apples which are not in HAH, so we plan to plant some.

The Space Coast Eco Geeks, four science teachers from Brevard County, identified 249 burrows using GPS. Tortoises may have dug two burrows, so we don’t know exactly how many tortoises live in Hundred Acre Hollows. Tortoises live and have been seen on all sides of HAH. The Eco Geeks had 5 camera traps there in the 2015-2016 school year.

According to the photos, the tortoises are healthy, and there are photos of tortoises mating.  Two baby tortoises were seen in HAH in the spring of 2017. The female tortoise lays her eggs, which are about the size of a ping pong ball, on the sandy apron of her burrow. Unfortunately, most of the gopher tortoise eggs are eaten by predators such as raccoons and bobcats. About one in 100 eggs actually hatch. 

gopher tortoise
gopher tortoise

We are concerned about what would happen to all the commensal species that rely on the gopher tortoise burrow for survival if the gopher tortoise disappears.  Please help us save Hundred Acre Hollows for all the animals that live here by becoming a volunteer or making a donation.

Resources:

Go to www.spacecoastecogeeks.blogspot.com to see camera trap photos.

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/gopher-tortoise/

http://myfwc.com/media/2447514/GT_commensal.pdf

Learn More About Hundred Acre Hollows

Learn About The Animals At Hundred Acre Hollows – https://www.hundredacrehollows.org/category/animals/

Learn About The Plants At Hundred Acre Hollows

https://www.hundredacrehollows.org/category/plants/

Learn Other Interesting Facts About Hundred Acre Hollows

https://www.hundredacrehollows.org/category/interesting-facts/

HAH will be open on the first and third Sundays of every month, from 6 to 8 pm for Sunset in the Hollows. Come early to help with community service at 5pm.
Hundred Acre Hollows Inc

hundredacrehollows

Some zebra longwing butterflies at HAH! The zebra Some zebra longwing butterflies at HAH! The zebra longwing is the Florida state butterfly and it’s host plant is the purple Passion flower! The plant with the pink and orange flowers is sadly an invasive plant called Lantana camara, but right next to it is the native plant pokeweed!
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#zebralongwing #nativeplants #butterfly #floridabutterflies #beautifulbutterfly #butterflies #floridanativewildflowers #floridanativeplants #nature #naturephotography #floridanature #butterflyphotography #naturelover #naturelovers
Mama and three baby bobcats 🐾 out this morning Mama and three baby bobcats 🐾 out this morning at Hundred Acre Hollows! HAH allows for a safe place for these animals to live, away from construction and neighborhoods!
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#bobcat #bobcats #floridabobcat #florida #photography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #floridawildlife #floridanature #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #floridawild #bobcatfamily #2022 #floridanaturephotography #animals
Happy 4th of July!🇺🇸🎇 . . . . . #july4th Happy 4th of July!🇺🇸🎇
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#july4th #fourthofjuly #independenceday #sunset #sunsets #sunsetphotography #beautiful #naturelovers #naturephotography #natureisbeautiful #nativeplants #florida #floridasunset #sunsets_captures #floridanativeplants #conservation #floridasky #naturesunset #2022 #🌅
The Purple Passion flowers are back in bloom at Hu The Purple Passion flowers are back in bloom at Hundred Acre Hollows! Love to see these important native plants blooming again!  Check the link in the bio to look for native plants near you to make your backyard a haven for birds, bees🐝, and butterflies!!!
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#nature #naturephotography #flowers #purplepassionflower #florida #floridanativewildflowers #flawildflowers2021 #purple #2021 #hundredacrehollows #floridaplants #flowerphotography #photography #naturepreserve #thegreatoutdoors #grass #plants #nativeplants #earth #bees #butterflies #birds
Ever wondered how a gopher tortoise gets into its Ever wondered how a gopher tortoise gets into its burrow…..? They use their entrance as a slide 😂
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#nature #gophertortoise #🐢 #florida #floridagophertortoise #2021 #naturephotography #gophertortoisephotography #reptiles #reptilephotography #floridareptiles #reptilesofflorida #floridawildlife #floridawildlifephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #hundredacrehollows #🐢🐢 #🐢🐢🐢 #gophertortoisehabitat #keystonespecies #reptile #floridanature #naturelovers
American beauty berries are currently blooming! So American beauty berries are currently blooming! Soon these lilac colored flowers will turn into the dark purple berry clusters after being pollinated. We have the bees to thank for that!🐝
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#florida #americanbeautyberry #beautyberry #floridanativewildflowers #floridanativeplants #floridanative #nativeplants #flawildflowerwatch2022 #flawildflowers #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #naturelover #flowerphotography #lilac #pollinatorgarden #pollinators #bees #hundredacrehollows #floridanature #floridanaturephotography
A bird left a present for us on our Hernandez Trai A bird left a present for us on our Hernandez Trail Sign!😂 
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#floridanativewildflowers #floridanativeplants #flawildflowers #florida #floridanature #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #naturelover #floridawildlife #floridaplants #snake #snaketail #bird #birds #hernandeztrail #natureisbeautiful #natureisamazing #naturepreserve #hundredacrehollows
Cactus blossoms at Hundred Acre Hollows! . . . . . Cactus blossoms at Hundred Acre Hollows!
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#cactus #cactusblossom #yellowflowers #floridacactus #floridanativewildflowers #floridanativeplants #flawildflowerwatch2022 #flawildflowers #florida #floridanature #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #naturelover #floridawildlife #floridaplants #nationalwildflowerweek
Happy Arbor Day! This year marks the 150th anniver Happy Arbor Day! This year marks the 150th anniversary of this holiday where people around the world plant trees in its honor. With every use of  #arborday the Arbor Day Foundation will plant one tree, or up to 75,000 trees! So turn your posts today into a new tree planted to celebrate this amazing day!
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#arborday2022 #oaktree #planttrees #trees #plantatree #nature #naturephotography #floridanature #florida #floridawildlife #naturelovers #naturelover #happyarborday #arbordayfoundation #naturepreserve
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We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit acting as caretakers to 114 acres of land in Brevard County. Our vision is to use this land to discover, study, and teach about Florida’s plants and animals to help sustain and enrich lives. HUNDRED ACRE HOLLOWS, INC IS DULY REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA AS REQUIRED BY ITS SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. OUR REGISTRATION NUMBER IS CH52596. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.