THE LAW AND THE TORTOISE

Why Pet Tortoises Should Not Be Released in the Desert

It's illegal. In addition to unauthorized releases being illegal, disease and parasites not obvious to owners may spread to wild tortoises, for example, Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD), so common and often fatal in pet tortoises.


Figure 2. This juvenile is using a crevice
as a burrow

Rattles made from
tortoise shells
were often used
in Native American ceremonies



Figure 3. A vehicle traveling off the road
collapsed this tortoise burrow.

Poor and decreasing habitat. One reason that the wild desert tortoise is listed as a threatened species is that natural habitat decreases each year in amount and quality becase of human impacts such as development, mining, livestock grazing, and off-road vehicle usage. Because the desert recovers very slowly, even from small distrubances, degradation accumulates and the habitat supports progressively fewer animals.

Tortoise
Flower munchers
Survivors of hot drought
Burrowing for mercy and life
Tortoise.

A major part of the wild tortoise diet is annual plants that germinate in winter if there is enough winter rain. To release additional tortoises into degraded areas, especially in years with little rain, increases competition for the limited food supply. As a result, when pet tortoises are released among wild tortoises, both wild and pet tortoises may suffer.


Figure 4. Desert dumping destroys
tortoise habitat.

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