Answering Questions About Desert Tortoises - Desert Managers ...

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A TORTOISE IN A DESERT TOWN¬ First, carefully evaluate the location. The location of the tortoise will give you an important clueas to whether it is likely to be a wild tortoise or a captive. Tortoises found on the fringes ofresidential areas in desert towns are very likely to be wild tortoises. They may wander in and outof unfenced yards and along streets on the edge of the desert.¬ Second, without touching the tortoise check for signs of captivity, such as paint or holes in theshell.¬ Third, if the tortoise shows no such signs of having been a captive, it should be treated as awild tortoise, If you find such a tortoise, do not handle it unless it is in immediate danger of beingkilled. Let it proceed on its way. If it is in imminent danger of being killed, pick it up carefully,keeping it in its normal, walking position, and carry it a few hundred yards to the edge of the desert(EXCEPT IN UTAH). You will help to protect the tortoise by allowing it to remain a wild animal.In Utah, if you find a tortoise that is in danger of being killed or injured in a desert city or town youshould notify either the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (Table 3), or, in Washington County,the Washington County Habitat Conservation Plan Administrator at (435) 634-5756.Some people try to use "tameness" to determine whether the tortoise is wild or a captive.Tameness is not a good criterion because captives and wild tortoises both exhibit a wide varietyof behaviors. For example, many wild tortoises exhibit lack of fear and curiosity, will walk up to aperson, sniff, and even stop to rest by him/her. In contrast, some captives are very shy and willwithdraw tightly into the shell when an observer approaches. If the tortoise is an obvious captive,follow the procedures described in Chapter 4.FINAL PROOF 9 DRAFT V7