DeLand Teens Sought for Foam Attack on Protected Gopher Tortoise

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigators are seeking two juveniles accused of deliberately harming a gopher tortoise by spraying expanding foam insulation into its mouth near Glenwood Hammock Road in DeLand.[1] Witnesses reported the disturbing act, describing it as intentional cruelty to the state-protected reptile, a keystone species vital to Florida's sandhill ecosystems.[1] The incident, uncovered through public tips, underscores rising concerns over vandalism against gopher tortoises, which are classified as threatened in Florida due to habitat loss and poaching. The tortoise was promptly rescued and transported to the Marine Science Center in nearby Ponce Inlet for emergency treatment.[1] Staff there meticulously removed the hardened foam from its throat and monitored the animal for several days, crediting swift intervention for its survival.[1] Officials noted the outcome was fortunate, as such obstructions often lead to starvation, infection or death in these slow-moving burrowers that can live over 60 years. After full recovery, the tortoise was released back into the wild, a relief for conservationists in Volusia County where gopher tortoise populations have declined amid urban sprawl from DeLand to Daytona Beach.[1] The suspects, believed to be local teenagers, have not been identified, with few additional details released as the probe continues.[1] FWC is appealing for public assistance, emphasizing that harming protected species like gopher tortoises carries felony penalties under Florida law, including fines up to $5,000 and jail time.