It keeps threatening to warm up here in the the hi desert, which means our one of our oldest resident species starts coming out their shells- metaphorically. The Mojave Desert Tortoise will become more active when its warmer, especially as flowers start to open up on native weeds, cacti and other down-low food sources. Z107.7 Publisher Gary Daigneault spoke with Joshua Tree National Park Ranger Sasha Travaglio last week about springtime in the park, and in this instance – what to do if you see one of these slow but sturdy characters in their habitat, including a handy rule for viewing all wild life in the park:
Sasha Travaglio: “Joshua Tree National Park has great habitat for tortoises and the reason that they come out in the spring is one: it’s often wetter and two: that’s when their food is out. They love to eat wildflowers so even when we don’t have a “superbloom” the tortoises are out trying to chomp those flowers.”
Gary Daigneault : “What do we do if we see a desert tortoise?”
Sasha Travaglio: “If you see a desert tortoise and it is far from a road.. you know you’re hiking on a trail or you’re in a campground, but if you’re in a safe area for a desert tortoise then give it lots of space.
Desert tortoises have an organ that holds water for up to a year, so that when we go through – as we often do in California – long periods of drought, they can use that surplus water so that they don’t dehydrate and die.
When they get scared they will void their bladder as a defense mechanism, then they don’t have any surplus to help them stay hydrated.
I like to teach folks the rule of thumb which is basically extend your arm out all the way put your thumb up, and close one of your eyes and if that animal is covered all the way then you’re at a safe distance.
Larger animals are going to be further back and smaller animals… you can be a little bit closer to.”
Listen to their full conversation here:
