TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - State wildlife officials say some well-meaning Floridians have been endangering turtles by helping them into the ocean.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission says it’s received at least three recent reports of good Samaritans incorrectly releasing gopher tortoise hatchlings.
Gopher tortoises live on land, don’t swim well and drown easily. They have claws on each toe, compared with sea turtles that have flippers with only one or two claws.
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