Gopher Tortoise Trail Series LbNA #47406 (ARCHIVED)

*****CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE****** Check back later, as we may be able to put these boxes back on active status. 2/14/2011.


Reed Bingham State Park is located 6 miles west of Adel on GA Hwy. 37 via I-75 exit #39, and 14 miles east of Moultrie from U.S. Hwy. 319. 542 Reed Bingham Rd., Adel, GA

There are trail maps located in the park office. The trail is a one mile loop on level ground, located on the east side of the park. Insect repellent is recommended!

6 Foot Maximum Leash for Dogs

The Gopher Tortoise is the state reptile of Georgia. The Gopher Tortoise Management Project at Reed Bingham State Park is an ongoing, non-stop project that is provided 7 days a week. Anyone interested in volunteering will:

Assist with recording data from micro chipped adult and baby tortoises.
Collect tortoise eggs in May and June.
Monitor the eggs and care for the babies after they hatch.
Release babies from the eggs that they collect.
Assist with educational programs for schools, park guests and other work resource projects associated with the Gopher Tortoise Management Area.

The gopher tortoise, a threatened species, is a very important part of the local ecology. The gopher tortoise is especially important because the burrows, which are dug by the tortoises, also provide homes for other animals such as indigo snakes, gopher frogs, mice, foxes, skunks, opossums, rabbits, quail, armadillos, burrowing owls, snakes, lizards, frogs, toads and other invertebrates. Gopher tortoise burrows are home to about 250 species of animals at one time or another.

CLUES



On the trail aptly named “The Gopher Tortoise Trail” you will find several letterboxes that are home to the tortoise and some of his tenants.

Box #1 - Sand Hill Land Lord

Enter the trail and walk to the left of the small white information box. Bare right past the No. 1 post. Starting at the No. 2 post, take 4 steps, then turn left onto a sub trail and go 35 steps to a large Oak tree. Behind the tree, you will see some corrugated tin and a large granite stone. Just under the tin, next to a concrete block and behind a smaller granite stone is your first gopher tortoise. Be careful to check for snakes, etc. and replace stone in front of box when you are finished.

Box #2 - Not Three, Not Blind

Continue on the trail. Just past No. 6 Post, the trail comes to T. The trail goes left, but you will go right past a small pond. Look to your left for a barbed wire fence. Walk along the fire break with the fence to your right. Look for a post with a rusty hinge. Box is under a suspicious pile of leaves and sticks. Please recover well.


Box #3 - Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Return to the trail the way you came. Follow the trail around past the No. 14 post. Starting at the No. 15 post, take 18 steps. You will see a sub trail to your right. Take 25 steps to the large oak tree. Look under the brush and leaves at the bottom of the tree.

Box #4 - Pepe LePew

Follow the trail past No. 17. The trail forks, go left to No. 18 post. Stand facing No. 18; directly in front of you is a large split oak tree. Look in the hollow. Please recover with leaf litter and sticks.

Enjoy nature as you walk along this trail. We saw two bald eagles while we were planting!