Page 8 - summer 2019

8 Friends oF red rock canyon
ue to lots of cold, rainy weather, the
Dspring got off to a slow start for the Rock
Stars. But it has certainly been eventful for our
Tortoise Habitat Volunteers.
On February 15, one of Max’s burrows col-
lapsed due to prolonged, heavy rains. This
happens in the wild as well, but it is one reason
Friends of Red Rock Canyon (Friends) volun-
teers continue to monitor the tortoise habitat all
year round. Upon discovering the collapse, volun-
teers – as well as Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) and Opportunity Village staff – all pitched
in on two separate days to excavate the collapsed
burrow but were unable to find Max either there
or in his intact burrow.
Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon
Volunteers used a scope-style camera – like
the type designed to look into plumbing – to peer
into Max’s intact burrow, but it was too dark to
make out any details at the back. Everyone was
extremely worried and confused, so Friends pur-
chased a new
scope camera
to replace the
old one. We
thought we
could see some
scat at the back
of the intact
burrow, but
the light was
still too dim to
tell for sure if
Max might have dug a side tunnel at the back. On
March 15, the BLM Wildlife Biologist brought
his office’s high-powered scope camera to the
habitat. Finally, we were able to see Max’s tail
and one hind foot, confirming that he was safe!
On March 17, Max emerged, very dirty but in
the Rock - Volume 9 Issue 4
Friends oF red rock canyon 9
down, wetting the layers as we filled the tunnel. Our human guests were
We also installed a wall at the back of the corru- treated to coffee and some
gated tubing to prevent Max from digging while adorable tortoise cupcakes
the soil sets. We will remove the barrier in the fall, from Daisy Cakes. The tor-
and we think the packed dirt will give Max a stur- toises dined on tortoise chow
dier, more homogeneous substrate through which and had kale for “dessert.”
to dig, should he decide to renovate again.
Article and Photos by Chelsea Conlin The first Tortoise Habitat Volunteer Training Roxie also had a dramatic entrance this spring.
Session was held on April 6. We welcomed six Even though we knew she was no longer in her
good health; and we all breathed a sigh of relief. new volunteers, and they have already proven to winter burrow, volunteers couldn’t locate her un-
til May 1, when she emerged from under a bush
be a big help! May 1 was the next training, with totally covered in mud! We had known about the
Max’s dramatic entrance aside, most of the another six attendees. Great turnouts! small burrow she’d dug for herself under that
other Rock Stars —more on that later — emerged bush last summer, but hadn’t been able to see
from brumation throughout March. Hugo was the Once the weather warmed up, the torts’ me- her in it this spring. Like
first one at the beginning of the month and Lucie tabolisms picked up Max’s burrow, we think
was the last at the end. They all remained slug- right away. While they the excessive rains must
gish for several weeks because of the cold, wet hadn’t been very in- have collapsed some of
weather that prevailed through March and the terested in food during it behind her, so she had
first half of April. March and the begin- to dig her way out. The
ning of April, by the hazards of being a burrow
During that time, visitors to Red Rock enjoyed end of the month they dweller!
the Mojave Desert Tortoise Exhibit in the Visi- were eating with gusto!
tor Center. It included information about tortoise With summer upon Tortoises should never eat
biology, behavior, and environment, along with us, make sure to visit the sweets, but we couldn’t help
photos of the Rock Stars and volunteers. Max is the only Rock Star whose age we know. habitat early if you want to getting a quick shot of Max
He was hatched at the Desert Tortoise Conserva- see the Rock Stars. They and a tort cupcake. He seemed
On March 24, several dedicated volunteers tion Center in 1989. The rest of our tortoises are eat breakfast at 8 a.m. on interested!
came out to the rescues, so we can only make educated guesses Wednesdays and Saturdays, and get soaked at the
habitat to repair as to their ages. With that in mind, we decided to same time on Mondays. The torts love visitors,
Max’s collapsed have a party for Max’s 30th birthday on April 27. and volunteers are always happy to answer your
burrow. We’ve questions.
been using
heavy-duty cor-
rugated tubing Did you notice the new signage?
cut in half to
form the arch of Sadly, some Habitat visitors
the burrows in think it is acceptable to try to
our habitat, and touch or handle the Rock Stars.
all of that was Some guests have even thrown
still intact. How- food into the enclosures. A slice
ever, Max had of pizza was discovered in Hugo’s
been busy over area but, being a vegan, he wanted
the past few nothing to do with it.
years and had Help us spread awareness of the
dug an extensive proper etiquette for enjoying our
tunnel leading beloved Rock Stars.
out from the back of the corrugated tubing. Since
that was the section that had collapsed, volunteers The Kids thank you.
filled it in with fine, compact soil. We packed it
Summer 2019