Desert Tortoise In Trouble

The desert tortoise occurs in low densities over a wide-range.  It shares its desert habitat with a wide range of human users and suffers greatly from their impacts.  Despite being listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act since 1989, desert tortoise numbers are continuing to decline throughout its range.  Scientists have attributed recent declines in part to the failure of government agencies to implement the recommendations of the 1994 Desert Tortoise (Mojave Population) Recovery Plan, a carefully developed plan that a panel of government appointed tortoise experts took nearly 4 years to produce.

This page provides resources and links to ongoing desert tortoise conservation efforts and issues, and the many challenges the desert tortoise faces today.

Michael J. Connor