Buried alive? Gopher tortoise burrows collapsed in Lehigh Acres; major work halted 30 days
Collapsed burrows. Alarmed neighbors. Slow agency response.
The destruction of a once-thriving gopher tortoise community in Lehigh Acres last week typifies what’s happening to the threatened species throughout Southwest Florida, advocates say.
The state wildlife agency finally put a halt to heavy equipment work on two adjoining Carbon and Carpenter Street properties Thursday, but not until a tractor had rolled over several tortoises’ homes, likely trapping their occupants underground.
![https://www.news-press.com/story/news/environment/2023/11/14/gopher-tortoise-burrows-lehigh-acres-florida-destroyed-construction/71530120007/ gopher tortoise](https://ccfriendsofwildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/71110173007-lee-tourism-4-gopher-tortoise-at-lovers-key.webp)