Page 14 - B Fall 2012 magazine

Tort Tattler (continued from page 5)

The new kid on the block, left,
and Maxine on the right.

The water bottle provides a com-
parison on the size differences
between the two.

Photos by Pat Williams

You may have noticed that we haven't called the big tortoise by name. He doesn't have one yet because the public is
being invited to vote for his new name. There is a ballot box in the Visitor Center and the choices for his new name
are Hugo, Titan or Tortoni. Voting closed the end of September and the results will be announced through our E-
Blasts and Facebook page.

We think he'll answer to anything as long as there is food nearby.

Even though the big guy's story has a happy ending, many tortoises are not so lucky or properly cared for. More than
a thousand pet tortoises are abandoned every year in Clark County. Many tortoise owners come to the habitat to see

how we take care of our resident Rock Stars, the desert tortoises. The Tortoise Habitat Monitors have a real opportu-
nity to educate visitors about proper tortoise care by providing the Desert Tortoise Food Lists prepared by the DTCC.
This list shows the foods that tortoises can and cannot eat. Apparently, pet tortoises will eat anything, because visitors
have told us they feed their tortoises hot dogs, jellybeans, etc. Sometimes visitors will confide in the volunteers that
they just can't take care of their pet anymore. That's when we hand them the Pet Desert Tortoise Hotline number.

Recently, a tiny tortoise, about 3 inches long, maybe two to three years
old, was found in the Tortoise Habitat. Someone, probably the well-
meaning owner, placed it just over the low metal wall where the volun-
teers enter the habitat. It was a miracle that no one stepped on it. The
abandoned tortoise was taken to the DTCC and will probably be put up
for adoption. The tortoises in the Red Rock Canyon Habitat get medical
check-ups twice a year and are highly susceptible to respiratory and
other contact-borne diseases. Dropping off a new tortoise in the habitat,

however well intentioned, puts the existing habitat residents at a great
health risk. The best thing to do if you have a tortoise that you can’t care
for, or know of an endangered pet tortoise, is to call the Desert Tortoise
Abandoned Baby Tortoise Conservation Center (702-488-9422) and ask for their help.
Photo provided by Amelia Savage
As the weather cools, the tortoises will become less active. The Tortoise

Habitat Monitors will continue to feed them every Wednesday and Saturday morning until the end of September. In
October or November, the tortoises will begin their brumation period, the tortoise equivalent of hibernation. During
brumation, they won't eat or drink anything until they wake up in March or April.

As we always say, we think Tortoise Habitat Monitor is the best volunteer job in Las Vegas. With the new addition,
the job got even better. If you would like to join the Tort Team, watch the E-Blasts for training opportunities.

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