Gopher Tortoise down for the count

I found this sight in the forest in late Oct, 2010...a few days after I left the hospital after a 35 day stay...I had missed the forest so much that it was my first trip after I got home...about went nuts in the hospital..spent hours watching the little lizzards that lived in the courtyard.
At first I suspected the tortoise had fallen down the steep bank there but I have learned a lot more about them since...they likely had been fighting..both are males and I would guess fall is the time for them to seek mates and territory rights. In their fights they seek to flip the opponite over and he dies when he can't get upright again. This flipped over guy was exhausted from his efforts to get upright. After taking the photo I tried to get him over right side up...darn! he was heavy! I finally resorted to useing my cane and prying him over...The other one walked off and looked back a few times like saying "Why don't you mind your own affairs and leave him down" Shirley

Lol I can just imagine him thinking that too

Nice shot Shirley.