John, Gopher tortoises are in a fight for their lives as urban sprawl continues to destroy their rapidly dwindling habitat. Yet the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the indefensible decision to deny lifesaving federal protection to the species throughout the majority of their range in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.
Speak up for this keystone species.
Gopher tortoises dig deep burrows that sustain more than 350 other species, including the rare Florida mouse and endangered eastern indigo snake. Without stronger safeguards these vital animals will continue to disappear across the Southeast, imperiling the forest, savanna, grassland and coastal dune ecosystems in which they live.
On March 22, the Center notified the Service that we plan to file a legal action against the agency for its unjustifiable decision. If the agency doesn’t reverse course, we’ll go to court to win the tortoises desperately needed safeguards.
Tell the Fish and Wildlife Service to withdraw its deadly decision and give gopher tortoises the protection they need to survive.
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