Yesterday we celebrated National Gopher Tortoise Day with our very own Dolly the Gopher Tortoise. Gopher tortoises get their name from their ability to dig deep burrows, which average about 15 feet long and 6.5 feet deep. They are considered a keystone species, meaning they are vital to the survival of an ecosystem, because their burrows are utilized by many other animals in their ecosystem. Hundreds of species use these burrows as shelter from predators and wildfires. Gopher Tortoise Day is mea

Happy Gopher Tortoise Day! Let’s get to know our Gopher Tortoise, Digger! Gopher tortoises have flattened feet and powerful claws to dig deep burrows that provide safety from predators and harsh weather. Many animals seek out safety, nesting, or shelter in burrows created by gopher tortoises; over 350 species have been documented to do so. Digger came to the River Museum after he was previously a pet for 35 years. Gopher tortoises have been known to live to 60 years of age in the wild, though ma

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