snakes and ghoper turtles?

Question

i hear that some snakes will make their home with the ghoper turtles.. is that true and which ones will do that

Answer 1

Yes, it's true. I have seen videos about this on the animal shows, as well as personal observation in the various regions of Florida. It seems the gopher tortoises can get a little irked when it gets overcrowded. The gopher t. begins digging a burrow exclusively for itself (at least among other gopher tortoises) and gradually removes excess soil as it grows (another tortoise will never use this burrow). When a burrow gets abandoned for whatever reason, that's when a snake (really) moves in, usually a large diamondback, pine, king, or indigo. Not only is it a great place for snakes to find shelter, but easy prey as well. Snakes don't eat the tortoises, but in a tortoise inhabited burrow, rodents and other small prey are cornered. After a tortoise abandons a burrow, a snake can use it for ambush. While growing up Florida, I watched these animals every chance I got and how they reacted to each other. I could go on about specifics, but I think this basically answers your question, and hopefully a little more.

Answer 2

Gopher tortoises dig long burrows- up to 20' long. These burrows are usually cooler and more umid than teh dry land above, so many species share the habitat.

This can include many birds, insects, mammals, etc.

Snakes that will gladly share a burrow include the Bullsnake, Rattlesnakes, and pretty much any other species in the areas.