When Mr. 1124, a gopher tortoise, was rescued from the path of a pipeline project in Florida—he was quiet, ancient, and vulnerable. Removed from his burrow and relocated to the Nokuse Nature Preserve, he’s one of the lucky ones. Most gopher tortoises don’t get that second chance.

Gopher tortoises are a keystone species that have survived for millions of years. Their deep burrows provide shelter to more than 360 other species, making their protection critical for entire ecosystems. But right now, their survival depends on a patchwork of state-level laws and inconsistent enforcement.

In 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denied federal protection for gopher tortoises across most of their range—including all of Florida, where they face immense pressure from real estate development. Without federal Endangered Species Act protections, these animals are at risk of being forgotten, buried alive in construction zones, or shuffled from site to site with no long-term habitat protection.

Even relocation, Florida’s current solution, is far from perfect. These tortoises have a strong homing instinct. Many never fully adjust to new locations. And given that they don’t reproduce until they’re 10 to 30 years old and can live up to 80 years, we won’t know for decades if relocation programs are even working.

It's time for the federal government to step up.

We’re calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider its 2022 decision and grant gopher tortoises full federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. This would provide consistent, enforceable safeguards across their entire range—from Florida to South Carolina—and protect the vital longleaf pine habitats they call home.

Please sign this petition to demand real, lasting protections for gopher tortoises—before we lose one of nature’s oldest survivors for good.