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National parks, government agencies and conservation groups are spending this week celebrating the desert tortoise. There’s a long list of events to check out and ways to help raise awareness of the threatened species that call the desert home.
Videos by Outdoors with Bear Grylls
Wildlife officials listed the animal as threatened in 1990, but even before then, it was rare to see a desert tortoise. The animal spends up to nine months a year hibernating underground, living in the Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California deserts. Recent habitat loss due to development, wildfires and other issues have caused the population to decline, but there are efforts to revitalize the desert tortoise.
Details: Drop in between 10 am and 2 pm to join Park staff for information, presentations, and tortoise-themed activities, including the famous “Wheel of Tortoise.”
Location: Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, 6533 Freedom Way, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Citizen/Community Science and Wildlife Identification Night
Oct. 3, 5 pm – 7 pm (PDT)
Details: Learn to identify native wildlife, including desert tortoises, snakes, and invertebrates, and share your observations with recovery biologists and researchers.
Location: Snow Math and Science Building Room 207, Utah Tech University, St. George, UT 84770
See Live Tortoises on Visitor Center Day
Oct. 4, 7 am – 4 pm (PDT)
Details: Come see live tortoises at the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve/Greater Zion visitor center. Learn about the incredible natural history and wildlife of Southern Utah, and join in a story time and craft activity focused on the desert tortoise.
Location: 111 E. Tabernacle St., St. George, Utah 84770
Help Restore Habitat and Protect Tortoise Homes
Oct. 5, 8 am – 10 am (PDT)
Details: Join professional biologists and recreation managers in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in conducting trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and clean-up in prime tortoise habitat. Please bring gloves, water, and sun protection and make sure to dress comfortably based on weather reports.
Location: Joshua Tree National Park, Indian Cove Campground Amphitheater (located near campsite 40), Twentynine Palms, CA
Guided Hike to Explore Desert Tortoise Territory
Oct. 6, 8 am – 9 am (PDT)
Details: Join a guided hike led by Snow Canyon State Park and Red Cliffs Desert Reserve staff to learn about life as a desert tortoise. Limited group sizes.
Contact: Registration is required; call 435-628-2255 two days preceding the event to register.
Location: To limit disturbance in tortoise habitat, location details will be available after RSVP.
Tortoise Conservation in the Field
Oct. 6, 9 am (PDT)
Details: Learn about desert tortoise conservation work being completed by Transition Habitat
Conservancy and Hardshell Labs. Get trained to identify signs of desert tortoises and help collect (hands-off) data on live individuals and their habitats.
For more information, visit the Transition Habitat Conservancy website at transitionhabitat.org
Desert Tortoise Shell-abration
Oct. 6, 10 am – 11 am (PDT)
Details: See live desert tortoises, enjoy games and educational material, and walk the ¼ mile-paved Tortoise Trail with interpretive signs and larger-than-life tortoise statue. No registration required.
Join events the first week of October on days the Monument Visitor Center is open: Thursday – Monday, 8:30 am – 4 pm (PDT)
Details: Check out educational tortoise displays and tortoise-themed activities for kids, and visit the resident desert tortoise ambassador that lives on site.
Contact: (760) 862-9984
Location: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Visitor Center, 51-500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA 92260
Desert Tortoise Week Educational Programs and Events
Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation, Rosewood Nature Study Area, and Peavine Pete will have several desert tortoise-focused education events scheduled throughout the first week of October, including a week-long social media video series and a native planting event at Rosewood NSA on Oct. 7, 9 am – 12 pm.
Details: Help support the Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area by repairing fences and signs, removing trash, and maintaining trails and the kiosk while enjoying the conserved lands.
