Over 250 species of vertebrate and invertebrate animals have been known to use tortoise burrows, whether active or abandoned. Insects, burrowing owls, raccoons, opossums, frogs, eastern indigo snakes and eastern diamondback rattlers are just some of the species that use tortoise burrows for shelter. The burrows, which average 15 ft. long and 6 ft. deep, provide the gopher tortoise with refuge from wildfires as well as heat, cold, drought, and predators.