Desert Tortoise
Gopherus agassizii
The Desert Tortoise is a reptile with an uncertain future. Land development and agriculture are just some of the reasons their numbers are declining. Ravens have followed humans into the heart of Desert Tortoise territory and have become a serious predator of juvenile and hatchling tortoises. The nests of these large and intelligent birds are often littered with the shattered remains of juvenile tortoise shells. Desert Tortoises are protected by law everywhere in the U.S. These animals are most active in the springtime. The tortoises on this page were photographed in the East Mohave National Preserve near Cima.
