California Desert Tortoises
JEAN IMMENUSHUH California Desert Tortoise Exhibit
Our California Desert Tortoises are available to visit in The Garden
from spring through fall (they are brumating during winter months)
California Desert Tortoises, a threatened wildlife species, are cold-blooded so they don’t exactly hibernate–they brumate. That’s a period of dormancy when they save calories by being inactive. With the warming days of Spring, our boys are back out and about and can’t wait to meet you! Drop by their exhibit the next time you are in The Garden. It’s right across from the gift shop.
Tank
Tank is our oldest gentleman.
He is approximately 25-30 years old.
He likes long walks in the desert, cool, snug places to
rest, and prefers bok choy over cabbage!
TORTOISE FACTS:
Identifying Features
Desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) have a high domed shell, carapace (top of shell) length of 9 to 15 inches, elephantine or “columnar” legs that are heavily scaled in the front. A desert tortoise can’t be mistaken for anything else native to its range (introduced tortoise species complicate this).
BERNIE
Bernie is approximately 20 years old and his nickname precedes him; “Bad News Bernie.”
He deems himself the “Houdini” of the “creep” (what a group of tortoises is called).
He definitely keeps us on our toes!
TORTOISE FACTS:
Adaptations
Desert tortoise are able to burrow to escape heat. They can store water in their bladder, and are able to tolerate high levels of urea in their blood to keep from losing moisture through excess urinating. They can go for long periods of time without food or water.
MR. PEABODY
Mr. Peabody is the youngest at approximately 20-30 years of age.
He loves to play “Hide and Seek” by camouflaging himself in the landscape.
He likes to sleep in and take his time waking up!
TORTOISE FACTS:
Habitat
In California, the desert tortoise is most often found in open washes in creosote-bush flats. The eastern Sonoran Desert populations most often occur in rocky canyons and hillsides. It is most common in the desert, but also occurs in tropical deciduous forest and some grassland habitats.
Range
The desert tortoise is found in eastern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, western and southern Arizona, and Sonora, Mexico.
GRANDPA SHELBY
Shelby is approximately 80 years old and the “Grandpa” of the boys.
He is very active and you can find him under the irrigation drips waiting for a sprinkle
He love cactus, grape leaves and does not like to be snuck up on!
FUN TORTOISE FACTS:
A common way tortoises defend themselves is to empty their bladder or “pee” if they are picked up or handled. This could lead to their death if they can’t find water soon as they could become dehydrated.
You should never return a captive tortoise to the wild because they might not survive (and it is illegal). If you already have a tortoise and can’t keep it, try to find and someone else to take care of it. If you can’t find anyone then give it to an adoption program.
Please consider making a donation for the care and feeding of our boys,
who are listed as a local threatened wildlife species.
This exhibit was made possible by a generous donation from Jean Immenshuh, The El Cajon Rotary Club and Virginia Azhocar.
Totoise Cages
Tortoise cages 2
tortoise
Mr Peabody
