Tortoise Group

EDUCATING AND ADVOCATING FOR THE PROTECTION AND WELL-BEING OF THE DESERT TORTOISE SINCE 1982.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: TORTOISE GROUP HOSTS 6 GENERAL MEETINGS EVERY YEAR THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND IN-PERSON OR VIRTUALLY. GENERAL MEETINGS PROVIDE GENERAL DESERT TORTOISE INFORMATION, SEASONAL BEHAVIOR, TORTOISE GROUP UPDATES AND TYPICALLY INCLUDE AN INVITED GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATION RELATED TO DESERT TORTOISE ISSUES. THE TORTOISE GROUP WEBSITE HOSTS AN ARRAY OF INFORMATION REGARDING DESERT TORTOISE ISSUES. IN 2023, TORTOISE GROUP LAUNCHED OUR BACKYARD BREEDING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN IN EFFORTS TO CURB THE PET POPULATIONS. THE CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS BEING A RESPONSIBLE PET KEEPER WHILE ALSO EXPLAINING THE POTENTIAL HARM RELEASING PET DESERT TORTOISES CAN DO TO THEIR WILD COUNTERPARTS. TORTOISE GROUP ATTENDS A VARIETY OF EVENTS TO SPREAD AWARENESS. TORTOISE GROUP ALSO PROVIDES CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS AND ASSEMBLIES AT SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS.

TOTAL PROGRAM EXPENSES

PET DESERT TORTOISE SERVICES: TORTOISE GROUP IS THE ONLY AGENCY LEGALLY ALLOWED TO ADOPT CAPTIVE (PET) DESERT TORTOISES IN THE STATE OF NEVADA. WHILE DESERT TORTOISES ARE A FEDERALLY LISTED SPECIES, PEOPLE CAN LEGALLY KEEP THEM AS PETS. EVERY YEAR, THOUSANDS OF PET DESERT TORTOISES ARE DISPLACED. TORTOISE GROUP IS THE MAIN POINT OF CONTACT TO HELP RECONNECT LOST/FOUND TORTOISES WITH THEIR ORIGINAL FAMILIES. DESERT TORTOISES ARE INCREDIBLE ESCAPE ARTISTS. MANY PET TORTOISES GO MISSING DURING ACTIVE SEASON (SPRING/FALL). TORTOISE GROUP IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING HOMES FOR DESERT TORTOISES IN OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM. OUR ADOPTION PROGRAM PRIORITIZES THE MOST VULNERABLE PET DESERT TORTOISES THAT ARE INJURED, ABANDONED, NEGLECTED. BECAUSE OF THEIR FEDERAL LISTING, DESERT TORTOISES CANNOT BE BOUGHT, SOLD OR TRADED. HOWEVER, PEOPLE CAN REHOME ON THEIR OWN WITH NO COMPENSATION. TORTOISE GROUP CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HUSBANDRY AND ACTS AS THE MAIN PLATFORM FOR REGISTRATION TO LEGALLY KEEP THE ANIMAL IN THE STATE OF NEVADA. TORTOISE GROUP ALSO SUPPLIES THE 4 WELLNESS AND MICROCHIPPING THROUGH THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY. PEOPLE CAN BRING THEIR PET DESERT TORTOISE IN FOR A FREE EXTERNAL EXAM AND/OR MICROCHIP (WHEN APPLICABLE DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE TORTOISE).

WILD TORTOISE CONSERVATION INITIATIVES: TORTOISE GROUP PARTNERS WITH SEVERAL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES WITH THE SOLE INTENT OF CONSERVING OUR STATE'S REPTILE. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS), THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS), NEVADA DEPT OF WILDLIFE (NDOW), AND CLARK COUNTY DESERT CONSERVATION PROGRAM (DCP), AND MANY MORE, TG IS ABLE TO AUGMENT EXISTING STUDIES AND RESEARCH PROJECTS AS WELL AS PROVIDING VOLUNTEER LABOR HOURS TO ASSIST IN ONGOING CONSERVATION PROJECTS IN TULE SPRINGS FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT (TUSK), LAKE MEAD NATIONAL REC AREA, AND UNINHABITED PORTIONS OF THE MOJAVE DESERT WITHIN NV. TG IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROVIDING VOLUNTEERS FOR "CITIZEN SCIENCE" PROJECTS.