Its spring time, and desert
tortoises are emerging from their winter burrows to enjoy the warm weather
and to feast on spring annuals
and leafy perennials. Federally listed as a threatened species, the desert
tortoise is protected under
the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
"Many factors have contributed
to the decline of the desert tortoise which include; rapid urbanization
and
the subsequent loss of habitat
on private lands, people collecting tortoises for pets or food, road kills,
vandalism, indiscriminate
off highway vehicle travel, increased predation, and disease and
livestock
grazing," said California
Desert District Manager Tim Salt. "At The Bureau of Land Management
(BLM), we are working with
other agencies and private groups to protect the tortoise.
But we need your help"!
If you find a tortoise in
the desert, respect its privacy and space. You may take pictures,
get down and
look at it from a respective
distance, but do not touch or harass the animal.
Never return a pet tortoise
to the wild. It may not survive, and if it is sick, it could cause
many other
tortoises to die. Releasing
a tortoise into the wild is a violation of the ESA.
Never take a wild tortoise
home for a pet. If you want a pet tortoise, call the BLM to locate your
nearest
California Turtle and Tortoise
club. You must get a permit from an adoption program approved by
the Department of Fish and
Game to keep a desert tortoise.
Do not pick up a tortoise
unless it is in imminent danger. When scared, tortoises empty their bladders
and lose moisture essential
for survival. Loss of fluid dehydrate the tortoise and could cause it to
die.
Drive slowly and alertly
on desert roads and stay on existing routes of travel so that you
don't accidentally
crush a tortoise.
Under the provisions of the
Endangered Species Act, anyone who "takes" a desert tortoise is subject
to
civil and/or criminal penalties
of up to a $100,000 fine or one year in jail, or both. The law defines
"taking"
as harassing, pursuing,
hunting, shooting, wounding, killing, trapping, capturing, or collecting,
or attempting
to engage in such
activities.
Report any vandalism, harassment,
or collecting to your local BLM office
or call the California Department
of Fish and Game's "CalTip"number:
1-800-953-5400. Spread the word! Together, we can help the
desert tortoise to survive.
For more information call the Bureau of Land
Management's California Desert
District: 909-697-5200.
News Source-Apple Valley News (via the Bureau of Land Management "BLM")