FWC searching for culprit who spray painted tortoise in Cape Coral

Neighbors tell us they see these animals walking around. There’s plenty of open areas for them to roam. But just last week, a tortoise was found painted red. Florida Fish and Wildlife is now looking into the incident out here.

FWC told WINK News they are looking into how a protected gopher tortoise got covered in paint near Wilmington Parkway in northwest Cape Coral.

“I’ve seen them. They’re calm and walk around the streets,” Will Cheney said. “Leave them alone let them be. They’re minding their own business. They have enough trouble as it is.”

A neighbor and her daughter found the painted tortoise and posted an image of it on Facebook.

“Somebody still looking after them,” Cheney said. “That’s a good thing.”

Many suggested the red paint on the tortoise may have been done intentionally.

FWC reminds people not to paint the shells of these animals. They said the paint can block essential vitamins they need from the sun and could put toxic chemicals into the tortoise bodies.

They can sometimes pose a driving hazard, but Cheney still does his part to keep these animals safe.

“I almost hit one driving, but I move them out of the way,” Cheney said.

“They’re animals you don’t want to mess with,” Cheney said. “Not only they’re peaceful, but because you’ll have someone go after you too .”