FWC is looking for the person responsible after a gopher tortoise was found spray painted red and with concrete on it.
The tortoise was in the middle of County Road 455, south of Montverde when two good Samaritans spotted it and took it to a wildlife rehabber.
The tortoise was covered in red spray paint and had concrete on its limbs and the top of its shell.
FWC says it is both illegal and very harmful to the health of a gopher tortoise to apply man-made substances, such as paint or concrete, to any part of their body or shell.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone, or text/email Tip@MyFWC.com. Anyone contacting Wildlife Alert can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
