Texas Tortoise Talk: Meet One of the Lone Star State’s Most Fascinating Reptiles

From TheRanch@Camp Ka Hui ‘Ana Series: Learning More about Texas Wildlife

If you’ve ever driven along a quiet country road in southern Texas during late spring or early summer and spotted a small tortoise slowly making its way through the brush, chances are you’ve met the Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri). This little wanderer is the only native tortoise in the state—and the smallest of all four North American tortoise species. Growing to just about 8.5 inches long, these amazing creatures are currently listed as a threatened species due to illegal collection, vehicle encounters, and disease.³ ⁴

Creatures of Habit (and Heat)

Texas tortoises are early birds and night owls—well, almost. They’re most active during the mornings and evenings of spring and summer, typically resting during the hottest parts of the day.¹ Unlike their cousins in other parts of the country, they don’t dig deep burrows. Instead, they create shallow resting spots, called “pallets,” under cacti or shrubs. It’s more of a cozy nest than a tunnel.

Their activity levels also get a boost after short bursts of rain, likely because they’re eager to hydrate in a dry environment. While most of their water comes from the plants they eat, dehydration is still a risk—especially if they’re stressed. In fact, when scared or handled by humans, a Texas tortoise may empty its bladder, which can be life-threatening. That’s why it’s best to admire these tortoises from a distance unless you’re helping one safely cross the road.³

The Love Life of a Texas Tortoise

Breeding season runs from June to September, and if you happen to see two tortoises bobbing heads or one climbing atop the other, it’s part of their unique mating dance. In fact, you can tell males and females apart by their shells: males have a concave underside (called the plastron) and a rounder back, while females have a flat plastron and a flared shell edge. This natural design helps during the mating process.

Females usually lay two to three eggs per clutch, which take about three to four months to hatch. The hatchlings are roughly 1.5 inches in diameter and perfectly round. But don’t expect them to grow up fast—it takes more than 15 years for them to become sexually mature. These tortoises are in it for the long haul, often living 60 years or more.³ ⁴

What’s on the Menu?

Texas tortoises are mostly plant eaters with a taste for cactus fruit.² ³ ⁴ Their diet changes based on what’s available, but cactus remains a staple no matter the landscape. They also munch on grasses, weeds (also called forbs), and small shrubs. Interestingly, tortoises in captivity have been known to nibble on animal matter, but in the wild, they’re almost strictly vegetarian.²

Where They Roam

The Texas tortoise is a true South Texan. Its range stretches from southern Texas across approximately 45 counties and into northeastern Mexico, including Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas.⁴ Males usually roam more widely than females—averaging about 2.5 acres compared to the female’s 1.4-acre range.¹ Whether they have true “home ranges” is still up for debate, but they certainly know how to make themselves at home in the dry, brushy landscape.

So, the next time you’re out exploring the wild beauty of TheRanch@Camp Ka Hui ‘Ana, keep an eye out for one of Texas’s most remarkable reptiles. In a place known for big white-tailed deer and endless hunting stories, the humble Texas tortoise quietly tells a tale of resilience and natural charm.

Bibliography

Rose FL, Judd FW. 1975. Activity and Home Range Size of the Texas Tortoise, Gopherus berlandieri, in South Texas. Herpetologica 31:448–456.
Scalise JL. 2011. Food habits and selective foraging by the Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri). Master’s Thesis. Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2011. Texas Tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri). TPWD Brochure. Accessed on January 16, 2025.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. _. Texas Tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri). TPWD Website. Accessed January 16, 2025.