Page 14 - Winter 2013 magazine 2 layout

Tort Tattler (continued from page 5)
On Make a Difference Day in October, Amelia Savage, BLM Wildlife

Biologist, and several volunteers planted cacti and small plants in Hugo's
habitat and spruced up the other habitats. As his new home still looked a
little sparse, Amelia and 14 volunteers planted several large yuccas in De-
cember. We also planted wildflower seeds in the three habitats so the tor-
toises would have some fresh food next spring. Amelia baked cupcakes to
thank the volunteers for all their hard work.

This year 47 volunteer Tortoise Habitat Monitors made sure that the tor-
toises didn't miss a meal from March through the middle of October. They
soaked the tortoises in plastic totes of water to encourage them to drink
and figured out a way to soak the Big Guy (here's the secret: use a jumbo
size tote and two people to pick him up.) They filled up the water dishes
countless times and picked up bags full of trash. Along the way, the vol-
Amelia Savage with Tortoise Cakes unteers spoke to thousands of visitors about Desert Tortoises.
Photo by P. Williams
This year the volunteers spent more than 1,130 hours – the equivalent of one person working 5 days a week for about
4 and a half hours a day – in the habitat educating our guests, doing chores and enjoying the tortoises.

The Tort Team is eagerly waiting for spring so they can start taking care of
the tortoises again. If you would like to join the Tort Team, we will have

training sessions when the kids emerge from brumation. Our electronic
newsletter will have more information.

We’d like to thank the Tort Team for their dedication to the tortoises…
the Red Rock Canyon tortoises thank the team as well.

Photo by P. Williams

Journey of Discovery (continued from page 11)
Travel to and from the Las Vegas area continued to be dangerous because of the harsh en-
vironment and possible attacks. There was more traffic on the road as ranches and mining
operations developed. By the 1870s the Indian population had dwindled to the point
where they were no longer considered a threat.

Note: Cottonwood Springs is generally associated with the spring in Blue Diamond and the upper spring, about a
half mile away, is now known as Wheeler Camp Spring.

References: Las Vegas Review-Journal-The First 100, http://www.allthingswilliam.com/willynilly/oldbill.html,
The Mormon web site for news and history at: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58714/United-States-
information-Nevada.html, History of the Colorado River at: http://www.socoloriver.com/id22.html, Carleton’s Pah-
Ute Campaign by Dennis Casebier, Overland with Kit Carson by George Douglas Brewerton, Preliminary Report of
General Features of the Military Reconnaissance through Southern Nevada – George Wheeler Corps of Engineers,
The Overland Journey from Utah to California – Edward Leo Lyman, Preliminary Report Concerning Explorations
Mojave Guide ca 1871 and Surveys, Principally in Nevada and Arizona – George Wheeler Corps of Engineers

Image credits: “Crossing the Plains” - Charles Nahl; Old Mormon Fort—Thaddeous Kinderdine; Lt. Ives Steamboat U. S. Explorer—Unknown; Colorado
Boat Crew—Timothy O’Sullivan; Cottonwood Springs—William Henry Jackson; Valley of the Virgin River—Thaddeous Kinderdine and; Mojave Guide—
Timothy O’Sullivan
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