The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a species of the Gopherus genus native to the southeastern United States. The gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for 360 other animal species.They are threatened by predation and habitat destruction.he taking of gopher tortoises for sale or use as food or pets has also had a serious effect on some populations. The seriousness of the loss of adult tortoises is magnified by the length of time required for tortoises to reach maturity and their low reproductive rate.
In 1990, Jim and Linda Magglos took out a third mortgage on their home and opened the first Baja Fresh in Newbury Park, California in the Conejo Valley. Franchising began in 1995, and the chain had expanded to 31 outlets by 1997.
For years, San Diegans have been told our wine country lies just north of the county line, in Temecula. But maybe we should have been focusing on a different line: the border with Mexico. Only about two hours south of San Diego, the Valle de Guadalupe is one of the worldâs hottest up-and-coming wine regions. Like much of Mexico, it was the Spanish missionaries who introduced wine to Baja California and to the Valle de Guadalupe. The first Baja winery, Bodegas de Santo TomÃ¡s, was established south of Ensenada in the late 1800s.