Page 8 - Abacoa Community News - April '25

Page 8, Abacoa BW

neigHborHood news

“Mika” – The Friendly Tortoise from page 1 Ira Fischer’s mission of
Kindness and Compassion for
head out of his or her burrow nearby. Other times, they Animals can be viewed at https://
can be seen walking alongside a trail or even crossing irafischer.com/.
it. Crossing paths with a tortoise is a privilege, because Ira is the Co-Founder of the
their basic instinct is to scurry into a hiding space (usually National Anti-Roadkill Project,
their burrow), or to hide inside their shell, when they see which has as its mission:
someone on the trail. Protecting wildlife from the
Over time I have come to recognize a number of the hazards of highways & roads.
tortoises that have burrows near the trail that I jog on. I Its website is https://natlantiroadkillproject.org/ and email
call them “Old-Timer” (except for the smaller tortoises), ira@natlantiroadkillproject.org.
and would say something usually like “Good morning,
Old-Timer.” A point is made to speak softly, as they can
become easily frightened by a giant creature in their
presence. Some people on the trail call me “The Tortoise
Whisperer.”
After a while,
most tortoises that
home on the trail have
come to recognize me
and are no longer
afraid. Indeed, some
seem to welcome
having company.
Nevertheless, they
always keep a safe
distance (typically at
least 3 feet), which is
quite bold given the
huge disparity in our
sizes. On occasion,
piano music is played Mika – The Friendly Tortoise
on my phone and they
appear to listen inquisitively.
Recently, I had a remarkable experience on the trail.
A tortoise was spotted walking on the trail headed in my
direction. I slowed down so as to not scare the creature
and slowly walked towards her. When we got close, much
to my surprise, this little fella did not move away. Instead,
she walked around me, as though she was checking out
this strange creature in her midst. Then, lo and behold,
she walked onto one of my sneakers! (I said to myself, I
hope it doesn’t bite).
After that remarkable experience, the thought occurred
that if we cross paths again, I would play some tunes for
her. However, upon reflection I realized that it was not a
good idea, as this could endanger this young tortoise by
encouraging her to interact with humans. The concern
was that someone could be so enamored by this friendly
critter they might take her away for a pet.
Tortoises, like all wild animals, belong in the wild.
Tortoises that reside in the Greenway are a few of the
lucky ones, as they are safe from hazards of roads and
other dangers that can befall wild animals in an urban
area. If Mika were taken away this would be tragic as she
belongs in the Abacoa Greenway that she calls “home.”
It is noted that gopher tortoises are listed as “threatened
species” in Florida (as well as in some other states).
Gopher tortoises and their burrows (burrows are shared
with many other species) are protected under Florida
law. If you see anything that is likely to block a path to a
burrow, carefully remove it out of harm’s way. Because
gopher tortoises are protected in Florida, handling and
relocation of gopher tortoises is an illegal activity unless
conducted under a valid permit issued by the Florida Fish
& Wildlife Commission.
If you see a tortoise at the preserve, please keep a
safe distance to respect their timidity. It is suggested that
visitors refrain from feeding these animals, as they are
best left to forage naturally. Providing them with food
can disrupt their natural feeding behaviors and potentially
harm their health by causing nutritional imbalances.
Because tortoises are low-profile and slow-moving
creatures, they are highly vulnerable to vehicular traffic on
nearby roads. For this reason, be sure to close gates when
entering and leaving the Greenway. If you notice a gate
or fencing that is in disrepair, including a vehicle access
gate that has been left open, that can result in tortoises
leaving the Greenway, please notify the owner/manager
of the greenway. Call Northern Palm Beach Improvement
District at (561) 624-7830 ASAP, if you see such a breach.
Should you see a tortoise that appears to be injured or
sick, please contact Busch Wildlife Sanctuary at (561)
575-3399. Should you see a tortoise crossing a road, and
wish to move it out of harm’s way, it should be moved
across the road in the same direction it was headed, since
it will instinctively continue to go back in that direction.
We are privileged to have the Abacoa Greenway
and to share space with all of its pleasant residents. For
that reason, it is also our responsibility to ensure those
residents can safely thrive and keep contributing to the
healthy ecosystem that we all benefit from. – Ira Fischer