Gopher tortoises are considered a keystone species for the longleaf pine habitat, as their burrows have been documented to provide shelter and refuge for over 360 species. Unfortunately, the longleaf pine ecosystem has been reduced from its original 90 million acres—spanning across almost the entire southeastern U.S.—to 3 million acres, which are fragmented by highways, agriculture, and development. In the state of Georgia, gopher tortoises are listed as threatened, but no federal listing has been assigned for Georgia or for any other states in the eastern portion of their range.

​

Gopher tortoises get their name from their burrowing lifestyle, digging burrows sometimes greater than 10 meters (33 feet) in length and 2 meters (6.5 feet) in depth. During the historic burn cycles of longleaf pine habitats, these burrows would provide refuge for the tortoises as well as several other species from the heat and flames. Although these burn cycles often no longer occur naturally, many longleaf areas are managed through prescribed burns. Due to their dependence on burrowing, they are restricted to habitats with softer sands and a cleared understory, pushing some of them into coastal pine plantations and sand ridges which are often sold for timber or surface mining. In many of those areas, tortoises are successfully relocated to other sites.

​

Although each gopher tortoise will dig its own personal burrow, they will participate in social interactions and the building of a hierarchy within communities. Gopher tortoises are often seen sharing burrows as well as competing for both occupied and unoccupied burrows.

​

Gopher tortoise burrows may provide them refuge from predators and fires, however, they are not able to protect against growing anthropogenic effects, making management efforts and active research crucial to the preservation of this species.