A gopher tortoise in DeLand turned up with its head and neck coated in what looked like spray foam insulation, setting off an animal cruelty investigation by state wildlife officials. Volunteers rushed the animal to a local rehabilitation facility, where staff carefully removed the foamy mess and released the tortoise back into the wild. People at the scene said they saw two children using a can to spray the animal, and that report is now in the hands of investigators.
According to FOX 35 Orlando, the tortoise was discovered in DeLand and taken to a Volusia County rehabilitation center for treatment. The station reports that witnesses identified two young people who allegedly used a can of foam to cover the tortoise’s head and neck.
Local Rehab Cleans and Releases the Animal
The Marine Science Center runs a turtle and seabird hospital and also accepts injured native land tortoises for treatment before they are returned to their habitat. The Marine Science Center posts intake details and emergency contact numbers on its website, along with documentation of its rehabilitation work with sea turtles and other native wildlife.
State Protections and Possible Penalties
Gopher tortoises are classified as a state‑designated threatened species and receive legal protection under Florida law. Intentionally injuring or killing any species listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern can bring criminal charges under state statute; see Florida Statute 372.0725 for details on penalties for killing or wounding protected wildlife. Volusia County highlights those state rules and notes that harming gopher tortoises can be treated as a misdemeanor offense under Florida law.
What to Do if You Find a Distressed Tortoise
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission urges the public not to pick up or handle gopher tortoises and instead to report injured or distressed animals to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888‑404‑FWCC (3922). The FWC outlines when to reach out to local rehabilitation facilities and how authorities coordinate rescue and response efforts.
Similar Cases Around the State
This is not the first time a gopher tortoise has been the target of what officials describe as vandalism. In 2016, WFTV reported on a tortoise that had to be cleaned and released after someone covered it in blue spray paint. In early 2025, another tortoise coated in nail polish needed hours of careful scrubbing by rehabilitators, according to WFLX.
State wildlife officials confirmed they were aware of the DeLand report and were investigating, per FOX 35 Orlando. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline or contact the Marine Science Center for local guidance.
