Longleaf Sandhills

Importance: Longleaf grasslands are biodiversity hotspots serving as unique habitats for numerous rare and endangered plant and animal species. These ecosystems are largely dependent on fire to maintain its open structure and diverse understory.

Hero: Gopher Tortoise Burrow

Host: Gopher Tortoises dig deep, long burrows that provide critical shelter for them and hundreds of animal species like the endangered Flatwoods Salamander and Eastern Indigo Snake. They eat leaves and fruits, and benefit plant communities by dispersing seeds across the landscape and improving germination.