Why is the desert tortoise endangered
Facts About Desert Tortoises!
[Music]
hi i'm mojave max and i'm a desert
tortoise i'm not sure how much you know
about desert tortoises but i'd like to
share a few facts with you as a
threatened species desert tortoises are
federally protected under the Endangered
Species Act since desert tortoises are a
threatened species if you see a desert
tortoise in the wild please don't touch
it
let it be wild it's okay to watch desert
tortoises from a safe distance but
please do not disturb them desert
tortoises live in a variety of habitats
from sandy flats to Rocky foothills
tortoises can be found in locations from
near sea level to over 5,000 feet in
elevation desert tortoises can live 50
or more years in the wild and even
longer in captivity tortoises depend on
bushes and burrows for shade and
protection from predators such as Ravens
and coyotes to help prevent damage to
sensitive tortoise habitat please stay
on designated routes and trails when
hiking in the desert if you've never
seen a desert tortoise in the wild it
may be because they spend more than 95%
of their lives in their burrows a desert
tortoise will use multiple burrows
throughout its lifetime and may use as
many as 12 burros in a single year
desert tortoises use their strong legs
and nails to dig burrows burrows provide
a cool retreat from summer temperatures
as well as a warm place to brew mate
during the winter months brumation is
like hibernation for tortoises desert
tortoises get water from eating plants
and drinking from puddles after a
rainstorm they can store up to a liter
of water in their body when drought
conditions occur this may allow
tortoises to survive for a year or more
without drinking water desert tortoises
are herbivores they eat desert plants
like cacti grasses and wildflowers
adult females may produce one or two
sets of eggs each year during the summer
months a set of eggs which is called the
clutch may contain 3 to 14 eggs
the female buries her clutch of eggs by
digging a small hole inside of a barrel
this helps protect the eggs from
predators
the eggs will hatch in 90 to 120 days
but she doesn't need to take care of the
eggs or help raise the hatchlings
hatchling tortoises can take care of
themselves hatchling tortoises have very
soft shells which make them vulnerable
to predators it takes about five years
for their shells to harden since
hatchling tortoises are so vulnerable to
predators less than 5 out of 100
hatchlings will survive to adulthood
please do not drop desert tortoises off
at the Red Rock Canyon visitor center if
you're looking for a home for your pet
desert tortoise please do your best to
find someone who will take it
the folks at tortoise group will be able
to guide that person in constructing a
great habitat for the new addition to
their family and if you're interested in
adopting a pet desert tortoise contact
tortoise group at wwr this group org for
more information I hope that you've
enjoyed learning about desert tortoises
today remember please respect protect
and enjoy our desert this presentation
has been brought to you by the Clark
County desert conservation program and
Red Rock Canyon interpretive Association
