If you have ever driven down Savage Blvd in Port St Lucie you may have noticed a gopher tortoise or two walking down the side of the road. You may have even stopped to help it across. That is because they live in a burrow meters from this busy road. They are my neighbors and have lived here longer than me. I moved in 5 years ago. 

Friday evening 04/09/2021 one of them was hit by a car. I stayed with him for 2 hours waiting for animal control to come. His shell was cracked. He was bleeding. He was covered in ants. I am sure he was in a tremendous amount of pain. Animal control came and took him to Creature Safe Place in Fort Pierce. That night he died. They said he was over 40 years old.

This has been heavy on my heart all weekend. Speaking with wildlife specialists Monday we decided the best way to help the remaining tortoises (there are at least two more) was to put up a "Gopher Tortoise Crossing" sign to let people know of their existence. Relocation of the tortoises would be nearly impossible. I wrote to the City of Port St Lucie and the response I received was very disappointing. It read: "There are a few existing Wildlife Crossing signs installed at specific locations within the city at the request of the PSL Police Department.  The locations were chosen due to wildlife causing vehicular accidents not wildlife fatalities." Essentially they are waiting until a HUMAN is injured by the tortoises existence, and care little about the animals in harms way. Even though humans like myself and my neighbors have been stepping into the street ourselves and stopping cars to move the tortoises and keep them safe.

If you care about animals, please sign this petition. My request to the city is a simple sign to bring awareness of their presence a mere few meters from a busy road. Gopher Tortoises are a protected species in the state of Florida and Port St Lucie is doing very little to protect them.

Thank you,

Christine Brandwood