Tortoises surface during floods
Friday, Aug. 22, 2003 | 10:03 a.m.
The phone number for tortoise pickups is 593-9027.
The Tortoise Group is online at www.tortoisegroup.org.
While Tuesday's devastating flood left thousands of northwest Las Vegas residents coping with too much water and mud, Mojave Desert tortoises emerged from their burrows in droves to drink rainwater.
About 13 tortoises have been discovered all over the valley and turned in to the Clark County Tortoise Pickup Service, local tortoise expert Betty Burge said Thursday.
"So far, one has been returned to its owner," Burge said.
The county's pickup service provides a safety net for tortoises born in captivity that could not survive in the wild, Burge said.
In Southern Nevada's heat, tortoises bury themselves in cool burrows. But when it rains, Burge said, tortoises emerge looking for puddles and drink for up to 15 minutes or until the puddle is gone.
Wild tortoises are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Tortoises born in captivity are not protected under the act and may be adopted.
When someone finds a wandering tortoise in an urban area, the best thing to do is shelter it in a cardboard box and keep it in a laundry room or other quiet shelter away from heat and activity until a pickup can be arranged, Burge said.
The county has a tortoise shelter at the Desert Conservation Area south of Las Vegas.
It is important to turn tortoises in and not keep them, Burge said.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Wonder drug for men no success story
- CityCenter: One man’s concept of a real city
- Bellfield tolls again for UNLV in 76-71 win over Louisville
- Notebook: UNLV prospect Polee likes what he sees, and hears, at the Mack
- Metro corrections officer remembered for his love of family
- Man, 18, arrested for DUI in crash that kills woman, 24
- Man fatally shot during robbery attempt of woman
- Live game blog: Bellfield, UNLV come through late, upset No. 16 Louisville
- Bishop Gorman crushes Reed to head to state championship
- Pitino doesn’t consider loss to UNLV a total loss
Blogs
The Greene Room
MWC Winners and Losers: Week 13
The Kats Report
If the message is 'rock out,' then KISS is indeed a message band (1 Comment)
Could a savior of shuttered Las Vegas Art Museum be ... Peter Max? (6 Comments)
For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over (6 Comments)
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond’s triumphant return to the Flamingo
The Kats Report
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (9 Comments)
Calendar »
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
- 3 Thu
- 4 Fri
-
DJ showdown at Prive
Prive | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Rok Box with Mike Carbonell at Tabu
Tabú Ultralounge | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
DJ Riz at Jet
Jet | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Football specials at Diablo's
Diablos Cantina
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati








