New signs and road decals aim to save gopher tortoises on Marco Island

MARCO ISLAND, Fla. (WINK) — The city added new road decals and warning signs in known gopher tortoise hot spots in an effort to prevent more strikes.

WINK News went to one of those areas where neighbors are helping protect the tortoises they live alongside every day. Mac Hatcher has more neighbors than he can count, and most don't knock.

"I share my lot with quite a few," Hatcher said.

The neighbors are gopher tortoises. Hatcher helped put up warning signs to keep them safe from fast cars and faster drivers.

He's seen them hit. Hatcher said he's seen more than he'd like to see.

"Probably 10, you know, just in front of and beside our house," Hatcher said.

In the last five years, there have been 20 to 30 gopher tortoise car strikes each year on Marco Island. This street is flagged as high-risk, which is exactly why the city is adding more signs and road decals.

"I took all of the data of where the gopher strike points were around the island and plotted them out on a map and figured out where the hot zones were," said John Quinlan, Marco Island Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee member.

Brittany Piersma with Audubon Western Everglades says the threat is growing.

"Car strikes have been a big threat in the last couple of years as development has increased," Piersma said. "99% of the tortoises that have been hit on Marco have not been reported. They've been found after the fact."

These small signs carry a big message.

"Hopefully to reduce the number of road kills," Hatcher said.