UPDATE: Gopher tortoises are listed as "threatened" rather than "endangered" in the state of Florida. CL regrets the error.
Last night, Martin County deputies called to Seabranch Preserve State Park discovered a man in possession of two endangered federally protected gopher tortoises. They came upon the 28-year-old lying on the ground, ostensibly searching for more tortoises, which burrow into holes.
When asked, the man admitted that he'd planned on taking the two reptiles back home and eating them. Guess he was taking that whole slow food trend a little too literally. The case was handed over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and will likely face poaching charges.
