You know when you're eating pasta and you get that one Rapunzel noodle and you just have to keep going? 😂

For those who are curious, this is one of our gopher tortoises: Gooder! Gopher tortoises are protected throughout Florida as they are threatened and are what is known as a "keystone species". They are excellent diggers and build impressive burrows that last. Even after the tortoise leaves a burrow behind, it becomes a haven for dozens of other species to live and hide their young. Through this, gopher tortoises are a "keystone" to its entire ecosystem. Unfortunately as these burrows are underground, it's become very easy for construction teams to miss them entirely and build over them. If you see one of these little guys and/or their burrow in your yard, leave it be! Make a note of the area around the burrow, and make markers the outskirts so you can locate it easily, allowing plenty of space for wherever the tortoise may wander. This will help you keep pets and people away from the area, allow the tortoise to go about his business, and allow you to observe and enjoy!