Gopher Tortoise Watch User Guide

1. Create Your Account

Open the app and tap Sign Up.
Enter your name, email, and a password (at least 6 characters).
Agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, then tap Sign Up.
Your account starts with the Observer role.

Log In with your email and password anytime. Forgot it? Tap Forgot your password?, enter your email, and we’ll send a 6-digit reset code to set a new one.

2. Roles

Observer (default, everyone): Report tortoises, burrows, and habitat surveys, and view your own observations.
Community Reviewer: Helps verify and correct community observations (assigned by an administrator).

3. Home — Four Quick Ways to Help

When you open the app you’ll see the welcome screen: “Welcome to Gopher Tortoise Watch — Four Quick Ways to Help.”

From the Home screen you can tap:

Report a Tortoise — Snap a photo to log a sighting.
Log a Burrow — Record burrows you find.
Survey Habitat — Complete a guided survey.
Explore the Map — View and revisit your sites.

The bottom tabs are Home, My Observations, Review, and Menu.

4. Report a Tortoise

1. Tap Report a Tortoise. The app records the date, time, and GPS automatically.
2. Take up to 4 photos (use zoom instead of approaching the animal).
3. On the Observation Details screen, select the life stage, size, behavior, and add notes.
4. Tap Submit.

5. Log a Burrow

Tap Log a Burrow.
Set the location on Confirm Burrow Location. The app automatically assigns a Burrow ID.
Add details on the Surrounding Habitat screen.
Review everything on Review & Submit, then tap Submit.

Returning later? Use Revisit Burrow to add a new observation without overwriting earlier records.

6. Survey Habitat

Tap Survey Habitat to begin the guided Habitat Survey.
Work through each step, including ground cover, nearby plants, canopy, photos, and notes.
Tap Submit, or save a draft to finish later. You’ll see a Survey Saved confirmation.

7. Explore the Map

Tap Explore the Map, then use Filters to search by record type, date range, life stage, behavior, habitat, or burrow status.
Tap Reset Filters to clear all filters.
Privacy: Exact GPS locations are protected. Public map locations are generalized, while you can view the precise locations of your own observations.

8. My Observations

The My Observations tab lists everything you’ve submitted.
Edit your own observations until they’ve been reviewed.
Swipe to delete an observation you no longer want.
After review, corrections are handled by a reviewer to help maintain data accuracy.

9. Review (Community Review)

The Review tab opens Community Review, where you can help verify observations, such as confirming the species or life stage.
If you see an inappropriate photo, tap Report Photo. It will be hidden from the public map while our team reviews it.

10. Menu

Open Menu to access:

Account — Profile, My Data, Observer Status, Privacy, Change Password, and Log Out.
How to Use the App (FAQ)
Gopher Guide — Learn how to identify the species and why it matters.
Field Guidelines & Ethics
Habitat Surveys
Contact Us
About

11. Field Ethics

Never stand on or near a burrow. They can collapse easily.
Stay 10 to 15 feet away and use your camera’s zoom instead of approaching.
Look, don’t touch. Never handle, feed, or move a tortoise unless it is in immediate danger while crossing a road.
Slow down and look carefully before driving or parking near easements or other tortoise habitat.
Injured tortoise? Do not attempt to treat it. Record the location and notes, then contact your local conservancy or the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

12. Help

Go to Menu > Contact Us if you need assistance.

Thank you for helping protect gopher tortoises. Gopher Tortoise Watch is completely free to use.