Longevity of Gopher Tortoise Burrows in Sandy Soils

Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) populations historically occurred throughout much of the southeastern Coastal Plain, and burrows created by this species provide refugia for a large suite of commensal species. Our objective was to evaluate the physical degradation of Gopher Tortoise burrows over time. We provide burrow-status information from initial and follow-up surveys of a low-density population of Gopher Tortoises across Eglin Air Force Base (Eglin), FL, a large landscape with very deep, sandy soils. Approximately 63% (n = 79) of active and/or inactive burrows were collapsed, filled in, or substantially degraded after 2 y, 82% (n = 65) after 3 y, and 100% (n = 19) after 5 y. Compared to results from a similar study with different soils, burrows degraded more quickly on Eglin. Our results on burrow longevity can inform interpretation of Gopher Tortoise surveys and aid in predicting temporal availability of burrows for commensals.