Are there desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert?

Are there desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert?

The desert tortoise is a threatened species throughout much of its range which includes both the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. Recently the desert tortoise was split into 2 separate species.The Agassiz’s desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizi) lives in the Mojave deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona west of the Colorado river.

Is the desert tortoise on the Endangered Species List?

Threatened Species. Arguably the most-studied animal in the park, the tortoise was placed on both the California and Federal Endangered Species Lists in 1989 and 1990, respectively. Its status is “threatened,” just one notch below “endangered.”. Several factors conspired to diminish the population of the desert tortoise.

Can a desert tortoise be released into the wild?

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) is the primary “adoption agency” for captive desert tortoises that cannot be released into the wild, because “captive tortoises can transmit diseases that can decimate Arizona’s wild populations.”

Is it illegal to own a desert tortoise in Utah?

The release of pet or captive desert tortoises to the wild is illegal without prior authorization from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NAC 503.135, NRS 501.105, NRS 501.181, NRS 503.597). In Utah, a person must obtain a Certificate of Registration from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to legally possess a captive desert tortoise.

Is the desert tortoise protected under the Endangered Species Act?

Progeny of legally held desert tortoises are protected from take under the Endangered Species Act (50 Code of Federal Regulations 17.4). Take is defined as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct (section 3 (19), federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended).

Can a desert tortoise be kept as a pet in Nevada?

In Nevada, desert tortoises may be legally kept as pets if they were held in captivity prior to listing under the Endangered Species Act (August 4, 1989 (50 Code of Federal Regulations 17.4, Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 503.093).

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) is the primary “adoption agency” for captive desert tortoises that cannot be released into the wild, because “captive tortoises can transmit diseases that can decimate Arizona’s wild populations.”

How is the length of a desert tortoise measured?

Tortoises are measured by straight-line carapace (shell) length. Hold a tape measure level above your tortoise’s shell—don’t follow the curve of the shell—and “eyeball” the length in either inches or centimeters. For example, female desert tortoises (native to the southwestern U.S.) grow to an average length of 7–8 in (18–20 cm). 4