Page 5 - Spring 2013 magazine FINAL

By Roger and Sue Kolar

Is it spring yet? It must be spring...
All the tortoises have emerged from brumation with Mojave Max, as usual, being the last one out. Max
officially emerged on March 14 at 1:45 PM — the earliest he has emerged since coming to the Rock.

The Habitat Team is gearing up for another great Tort Season and hope you can come out to see the kids.

Last year, the first tortoise came out on February 6.

This year, all of February went by and no tortoises
emerged. Finally, Lucie ventured out of her dark bur-
row on March 2. She hadn't been in the sunlight since
October and she looked longingly at our sunglasses.
Maxine and Mae came out the next day. As Maxine is
the largest female tortoise, she usually blocks several
smaller tortoises in the burrow just for fun. This year

she is being much more pleasant. So the tortoise sea-
son is off to a good start.

Sue Kolar
Sue Kolar

We've made a few changes to the tortoise volunteer
schedule this year. We've added one more position
every day because Hugo's habitat is separate from

the others and he needs more “supervision.” Many
visitors walk right by Max and the girls, but they
notice the enormous moving rock, Hugo, when
they get to the end of the exhibit area. He seems
very interested in people and walks (Continued on page 10)
Sue Kolar

We could see the new guy, Hugo, in the back of his bur-
row. He came out a few days after Lucie and propped
himself up on a rock so that sunlight could reach the
bottom of his shell. He’s a pretty smart tortoise.

Mojave Max officially emerged on March 14 so all ten
torts are out and ready for their adoring fans. Max has
enlarged his burrow by adding a “man-cave” at the back.

We can't see him when he goes all the way back there.
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