MOHAVE DAILY NEWS (Bullhead City, Arizona) 08 May 06 Biologists urge public to leave tortoises in the wild
Kingman: The temperatures have started to rise and with the warmer weather many dormant critters are once again active.
Included in this group is the slow-moving, even-tempered desert tortoise common throughout Mohave Count, including Bullhead City and Fort Mojave.
At first glance, the amiable personality of the tortoise might make it appear to be the ideal pet. These traits, however, are not an invitation to take a tortoise from the wild. In fact, the tortoise is protected and it is illegal to remove them from the wild.
Tortoises can be legally adopted through the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Adopt-a-Tortoise Program and the need for caretakers is immediate.
Desert tortoises become especially visible during the spring as they leave their winter burrows in favor of food and water. The journeys these animals take often lead to encounters with humans.
“It has been warming up and the spring rains have vegetation blooming,” said Steve Goodman, a biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The desert tortoise is now active.”
The desert tortoise becomes increasingly active as the temperatures rise and Arizona Game and Fish personnel are advising people to let the tortoises complete their journeys without interference.
As desert tortoises become more visible, many good-hearted people will make attempts to save them from potential hazards, such as vehicles while they attempt to cross a roadway. Others see the good-natured reptile as a potential pet.
“A tortoise in the road is simply trying to get to the other side,” Goodman said. “If a situation is considered hazardous, people can help the tortoise to the other side of the road by holding both sides of its shell and keeping it low to the ground to diminish stress on the animal. Make sure you help it continue in the direction it is heading. Once on the other side, the tortoise will likely continue its journey.
“However, and I can't stress this enough, the tortoise should not be handled for any length of time and they should not be brought home or to our office. The best thing anyone can do is to leave the tortoises in the wild.”
Goodman said two important factors come into play when handling tortoises. First they store water, but will relieve themselves in stressful situations, such as human handling, leaving no stored supply to sustain them through summer months. Secondly, there are disease factors to consider, and once a tortoise is handled for a length of time, it can't be returned to the wild.
Hence, the Adopt-a-Tortoise Program, which makes an effort to find a healthy home environment for unwanted pet tortoises or those salvaged from development projects or other hazardous situations.
One potential problem is upper respiratory tract disease, which can spread quickly throughout the desert tortoise population and has been implicated in tortoise population declines. Because of the potential for a disease-based die-off, it is important adoptive owners never release captive tortoises back into the wild. In the event a tortoise is no longer wanted, it should be returned to the Game and Fish office.
Massive die-offs associated with this disease have occurred in the western Mohave Desert of California and the goal is to avoid a similar occurrence in Arizona. While the disease does not affect humans, people can carry it on their hands and need to exercise good judgment when deciding whether or not a tortoise needs assistance.
“We just don't know a lot about this disease's potential impact in Arizona,” Goodman explained. “So, when a tortoise remains in contact with people for a prolonged period of time, we can't release it into the wild. And, it would be ideal if these animals remained in the wild, not fenced in on a person's property.
Caring for a desert tortoise isn't necessarily easy, explained Zen Mocarski, public information officer for the Kingman regional office.
“When a person commits to a dog or cat, it's reasonable to assume most pet owners will outlive their pet,” Mocarski said. “There are many considerations regarding adoption, including habitat and diet. The Game and Fish Department will provide information on requirements for adoption and how to care for a tortoise.”
Those interested in adopting a tortoise should contact the Kingman regional office at 928-692-7000 for more information.
Biologists urge public to leave tortoises in the wild