Page 9 - fall the rock 2015

8 Friends oF red rock canyon Friends oF red rock canyon 9
Thank You Tort Lovers

Maxine was the first tort to go to the
vet. She had a wild ride in the car;
she’s so big she can peek out of the
Article and photos by Sue and Roger Kolar What we’re doing and how you can help.
top of her travel bin. Maxine didn’t
We’ve had a memorable “Tort” season thanks to like what Friends have created a Health protocols and pro-
she saw
our dedicated volunteers and habitat supporters. and lost dedicated Tortoise Medi- cedures have also been
most of
updated to further reduce
cal Fund to provide the
her bodily necessary health care the the chance of a medical
fluids. A Rock Stars need. emergency for one of the
bladder Red Rock tortoises.
his year fifty-one volunteers In spite of all our efforts, one of the stone was The seven females and
Tspent more than 1,300 hours Unfortunately, BLM tortoises, Greta, died in July. She detected two males are checked You can send your tax
taking care of the torts. We’ve fed does not have funds had complications from trying to lay and treat- annually by volunteers for deductible donations to
the torts 54 times and soaked them to pay for tortoise eggs or possibly from eating a for- ment their weight and girth. Our Friends of Red Rock Can-
27 times. We’ve educated count- medical care, so eign object that fell into the habitat. Carla Wise and Lucie on a road trip options are volunteers also remove yon P.O. Box 97 Blue
less visitors about the difference Friends started a being investigated. ticks, check for respira- Diamond, NV 89004
between turtles and tortoises and Tortoise Medical To address these issues, we plan to tory issues and other minor
watched so many children thrill to Fund. take the torts to the vet for regu- Volunteers noticed that Greta, Willie health issues.
see a live tortoise. lar check-ups and to provide basic and Lucie all dug nest type holes in
training for all of the people who May and June but they walked away
work at Red Rock so they can enter without laying any eggs. This may be
the habitat to collect trash when an indication of a problem so Willie
they see it. and Lucie visited the vet in Septem-
ber. Willie is in excellent health but
Unfortunately, the Bureau of Land Lucie has a bladder stone. We’ll be
Volunteers dedicated to the preservation of Red Rock Canyon
Management (BLM) does not have keeping an eye on Maxine and Lucie.
funds to pay for tortoise medical Next spring we’ll start getting all of
care, so Friends started a Tortoise the torts to the vet for a check-up.
Medical Fund and thanks to your
support it has a balance of more The tortoises will start brumating in
than $2,300. October and November. You may see
a few out warming themselves by
the metal wall during the warmest
Hugo before the annual weight check part of the day. For more information
Hugo enjoying his annual measuring about the torts you can reach us at:
Hugo is a big favorite in so many torts@friendsofredcokcanyon.org
ways; the visitors can hear him
crunching the kale stalks from the
sidewalk. The children are not so
thrilled when their parents point out
that Hugo loves his vegetables. We
weighed the torts a few weeks ago
and Hugo has gained a pound. He’s Come out soon to see (and hear) the Rock Stars. They will start brumation
now slightly more than 33 pounds, in the next few weeks. Cartoon by Rob Tuvell ©
and it’s all muscle! Lucie not enjoying her annual measuring

the Rock - Volume 6 Issue 1 Fall 2015