Page 14 - Summer 2014 magazine
P. 14
Tort Tattler (continued from page 6) During the summer, the
the viewing platform. Hundreds tortoises like to beat the
enjoyed watching the process. After afternoon heat. If you
two hours of digging, Maxine finally would like to see them, it
laid 16 eggs. She then spent more is best to come early in
than an hour covering the eggs. The the day.
nest was invisible when she was done. The tortoises are fed
Maxine, the visitors and the tortoise
twice weekly on
habitat volunteers were exhausted! Wednesday and Satur-
Cheering on Maxine in her efforts.
day. The Visitor Center
opens at 8 a.m. daily and that is when volunteers
The eggs have
generally start feeding them. We also soak the
been removed tortoises every Monday beginning at 8 a.m. One
from the habitat week we’ll soak Max and the girls and the next
as Red Rock is
week we soak Hugo. The tortoises are usually very
not equipped as a
active after the soaking.
breeding facility.
These will be If you would like more information about the
The official count was 16 eggs hatched in a safe tortoises or you would like to join the Tort Team,
and controlled environment and kept until the tortois- you can reach Sue and Roger Kolar at
es can be released into the wild. torts@friendsofredrockcanyon.org.
We’re Diggin’ This (continued from page 4)
Once the major pruning is done, the team can work
to maintain the size and shape of the trees and plants.
Also, there are plants now visible that no one knew
were there.
At the request of the Bureau of
Land Management a seed
collecting program has be-
gun. The goal is to collect
native and natural seeds Properly trimmed mesquites in the Exhibit Area
from the conservation area member of the team and I can tell you he’s right! The
for future use in restoring coworkers are a fun group, talking to visitors is always
areas along the loop road interesting and now with our armbands they know who
that will be affected by the we are. We get compliments on how nice the grounds
proposed road repair and look and the plants let us know how much they enjoy
new development. their “haircuts” by looking beautiful.
Doyle laughingly calls the work You can join this great team by contacting Doyle
Seed Collecting “self-inflicted therapy.” I’m a Wayman at wayman.doyle@gmail.com.
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