On Saturday, May 11, the Hi-Desert Nature Museum hosted a lecture by Katie Shaw, Conservation Social Scientist at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, titled “Time to Talk Trash.” The lecture shed light on the alarming decline in desert tortoises, a trend partly attributed to the burgeoning raven population. One of the main predators of juvenile desert tortoises is ravens, whose population has increased by 1,700% in parts of the California desert due to additional roosting places like public signage and food access from trash dumpsters. The loss of tortoises can seriously impact the desert ecosystem in several ways, such as:
Soil Aeration and Fertility: Tortoises dig burrows for shelter, which helps to aerate the soil. Their burrowing activity also promotes nutrient cycling by bringing subsoil to the surface and mixing it with topsoil.
Seed Dispersal: Tortoises consume a variety of plants and fruits. The seeds from these plants pass through their digestive systems and are excreted in different locations, aiding in seed dispersal and promoting plant diversity.
Habitat Creation: Tortoises’ burrows provide shelter for many other desert species, including insects, rodents, reptiles, and even birds, and offer a cooler and more stable environment than the harsh surface conditions.
Grazing Pressure Regulation: By feeding on certain plants, tortoises help to control plant growth and maintain the balance of the vegetation community. This grazing pressure can prevent any single species from dominating the landscape.
Food Source: Tortoises are a food source for predators, such as birds of prey, mammals, and reptiles, placing them within the food web and contributing to the overall biodiversity and health of the ecosystem.
Water Distribution: In some cases, the presence of tortoises can help to locate water sources. Their burrows can accumulate rainwater, which becomes accessible to other animals in the ecosystem.
Conservationists from the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, concerned about the diminishing number of tortoises, developed an educational campaign to increase awareness of how abandoned food waste can escalate raven populations and the bird’s impact on tortoises.
The “Time to Talk Trash” campaign, launched in 2019, included surveys of restaurants in Desert Hot Springs and the Morongo Basin. As part of the campaign, restaurants and businesses that keep dumpsters closed 80% of the time receive a Gold Star Award packet with display materials like window stickers and table toppers. The campaign is bringing about desired effects, and now the “Time to Talk Trash” campaign has won a $9,000 award from Edison International, which will enable the program to expand to additional communities, continue its educational program, and spread the word to individuals that keeping trash cans covered is essential for protecting the tortoise and the desert.
