Currently the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is caring for eighteen gopher tortoise hatchlings from the wild. Gopher tortoise shells are covered in scutes that are made of keratin, like our fingernails, and should be a hard protective material but for an unknown cause all of these hatchlings are exhibiting soft, pliable shells. To help harden their shells we provide them with proper lighting, routine calcium injections, soak them in warm water baths, and add cuttlebone, a natural calcium supplement,

4.2K views · 150 reactions | Join us for a Day in the Life of a Gopher Tortoise for Florida Gopher Tortoise Day! Gopher tortoises are a keystone species whose burrows provide important habitats for over 350 commensal species like indigo snakes, burrowing owls, etc. This is why protecting gopher tortoises & their habitat is so essential. | Defenders of Wildlife | Facebook