Numerous gopher tortoises made a perilous journey across the sea after being displaced from their homes during Hurricane Helene last summer, and are now thriving on a secluded part of the Florida coastline at Fort de Soto county park.

Before the September storm, only eight of these vulnerable creatures were known to be living in the area.

However, a recent count revealed 84 active burrows, indicating that the tortoises have adapted remarkably well to their new habitat after being evacuated from Egmont Key national wildlife refuge, which was devastated by the category 4 hurricane.

Aside from attracting visitors eager to witness the unexpected arrivals, the tortoises are also benefiting other species within the 1,100-acre environment.

Anna Yu, a Fort De Soto ranger, emphasized their importance as a keystone species, explaining that they share their burrows with numerous other species, promoting biodiversity in the park.

Yu and her team were aware that the tortoises had come from Egmont Key due to identification markings drilled into their shells by biologists from Eckerd College in St.Petersburg.

While many tortoises perished during the crossing, the survivors managed to float and were carried towards the mainland by the storm. Their subsequent behavior has intrigued observers, with some burrowing deeper to higher elevations, presumably to avoid future floods.

Yu expressed that the tortoises’ intelligent navigation towards safer grounds is a testament to their survival instincts, with many burrows now situated beyond the reach of storm surges.

Additionally, some tortoises have exhibited mating behaviors, suggesting a potential new generation will be thriving in the near future.

Yu stressed the ecological significance of this event, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Fort De Soto as a habitat for wildlife and the need for collective stewardship to ensure their survival.