Clay Davenport

State wildlife investigators want to know who slaughtered at least 20 gopher tortoises in Ocala.

A city worker found two bags of cleaned out tortoise shells Wednesday in woods near the 700 block of Northwest 14th Street.

Gopher tortoises are protected as a “species of special concern” in Florida. This year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission decided to increase the tortoises protection status to “threatened,” a process that will take about a year.

Officers said the incident occurred within the past few weeks, probably somewhere other than where the shells were found.

“On occasion, gopher tortoises are sold off the back of trucks,” Emily Vought, an officer with the commission, said in a prepared statement. “In some circles, the reptiles are considered a delicacy.”

Anyone with information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward and may remain anonymous. To report about this or any other wildlife violation, call 1-888-404-3922.

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