Flagler County deputy rescues trapped gopher tortoise

BUNNELL, Fla. — It was just another day on the job for a Flagler County deputy when he helped rescue a gopher tortoise stuck underneath a woman's car, deputies said.

“I laid under the car and she moved the car back and forth. Together with her help, I was able to get the that turtle out,” said Flagler County Deputy Steve Williams in a news release.

Julie Tallasksen of Bunnell said she was in a hurry to visit her mother in the hospital when she heard a loud noise under her car, deputies said. She said she looked underneath the car and saw the stuck tortoise.

Tallasksen said she was scared to move her vehicle because she feared that she would kill the tortoise, so she called the non-emergency number of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

After some maneuvering, the tortoise, nicknamed, Jerry was rescued with a few scuffs and scratches on his shell.

Tallaksen wrote an email to Sheriff Rick Staly, praising the efforts of both FCSO employees.

“(Dispatcher) Danielle Brown went above and beyond her duty to locate Deputy Williams to try to help me. Deputy Williams made it a priority to get to my home to help,” Tallaksen wrote. “When he arrived, he knew immediately that this tortoise was stuck and in danger. I didn't think the tortoise was alive, but when Deputy Williams picked him up, he popped his head out and was put on the grass and he walked away, unharmed. I just wanted you to know that I appreciate what Deputy Williams and dispatcher Danielle Brown did to help.”

Williams believes that Jerry is at least 50 years old and weighs 25 to 30 pounds.

“That’s the biggest gopher turtle that I’ve seen personally, and I was raised in Florida,” the deputy said.

Cox Media Group