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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The Desert Tortoise Council is now accepting applications for the Glenn R. Stewart Student Travel Fund! This fund was established to support students working with North American Gopherus tortoises by assisting with their travel costs to attend and participate at the 2027 Desert Tortoise Council...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Now Taking Applications for the David J. Morafka Memorial Research Award In honor and memory of Dr. David J. Morafka, distinguished herpetologist and authority on North American gopher tortoises, the Desert Tortoise Council, with the aid of several donors, has established a monetary award to help..

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A new DTC Member Benefit Just Dropped and its a BANGER! Online Lecture Session Recordings (DTC Member Access) Are you a member of the Desert Tortoise Council? You can sign up now to get free access to this year's Online Lecture Session Recordings! ... Photo: Andrew Walde

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Be Part of Preserving Desert Tortoise Science and Conservation Consider sponsoring the 52nd Annual Desert Tortoise Council Meeting & Symposium! Sponsorship is NOT just for companies and organizations, it's for people just like you! Photo: Faith Machuca #Desert #Tortoise #Science #Conservation

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Surprise! You Forgot Deadlines! The Desert Tortoise Council is requesting Papers for its 52nd Annual Symposium, but now there is even less time to submit! Intent to Submit Deadline: 1st November, 2026 Final Abstract Deadline: 15th December, 2026...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

You can "Kill Your Television", there are probably many benefits... Just don't dump it in the desert! This photo by Bruce Christman highlights the problems and potential hazards posed by trashing the wilderness. Get outside and enjoy freedom from the screens, and pack out some trash if you can!

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

52nd Annual Symposium Announcement! Call for Papers The Desert Tortoise Council is pleased to announce the 52nd Annual Meeting and Symposium, which will be a hybrid event (both in-person and virtual attendance options) that will, #desert #tortoise #science #conservation Photo: Max Hevalka

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Are you on a search? There are new job postings on our website! Click the link below and then bookmark that page in your favorites! deserttortoise.org/news/job-ann... #desert #tortoise #deserttortoise #careers Photo: Kelly Hunt

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The 2026 Introductory Course is now FULL! But don't let that stop you from adding your name to the wait list or signing up to audit the Online Lecture Sessions! The Online Lecture Sessions take place on October 23 and 24 and include specific information about the biology, Photo: David Hedrick

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

BLM advances frozen solar project within the Trout Canyon Tortoise Connectivity Zone, which the BLM manages as a high-priority connectivity corridor for the Federally... Photo: Mojave Desert Tortoise at Trout Canyon, NV, FWS #Nevada #Desert #Habitat #Fragmented #WhatCouldGoWrong #Tortoise

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

California solar project threatens Mojave Wildlife Corridor “That’s some of the highest habitat suitability across the Mojave Desert Tortoise’s range,” said Kristina Drake, Director of Conservation Ecology at the... Photo: Kayla Thompson #Desert #Habitat #Fragmented #WhatCouldGoWrong #Tortoise

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

And we thought this course sold out quickly LAST YEAR! If you’ve been putting off registering for the 2026 Introductory Course, now is the time. Registration has only been open for a... Photo: David Hedrick #desert #tortoise #mojave #california #science #biologist #conservation #field #workshop

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Mojave Pipeline Approved Despite Warning it will 'Drain the Desert' "Science and commonsense makes clear that pumping more groundwater than is sustainably replenished is not only negligent, but dangerous to... Photo: Scott Smith/Getty Images #Desert #Aquifer #Drained #WhatCouldGoWrong #Tortoise

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Registration opened less than a week ago for the 2026 Introduction to the Mojave Desert Tortoise course, and if you'll believe it, there are only a handful of spots remaining for the Sunday, November 1st, Field Workshop date. There are still a, Photo: Cameron Rognan

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

IT IS TIME... REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the 2026 Introduction to the Mojave Desert Tortoise Course! See the link below! This course is designed for wildlife biologists, zoologists, natural resource specialists, wildlife managers, #Desert #Tortoise #Mojave #science 🧪 Photo: Ann McLuckie

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

COMING SOON! REGISTRATION IS ABOUT TO OPEN FOR THE 2026 Introduction to the Mojave Desert Tortoise! Watch here for more information! This course is designed for wildlife biologists, zoologists, natural resource specialists, wildlife managers, #Desert #Tortoise #Mojave Photo: Andrew Walde

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

When Its #ThirstyThursday and you’re just looking for that puddle. Is it Puddle:30 yet? Photo: Brian Sandstrom #TurtleMonth #Desert #Tortoise #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Sonoran #Mojave

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Have you ever stared at one of those optical illusion pictures, waiting for the hidden image to appear, only to feel frustrated when nothing happens? You’re not alone. Many people struggle to.. Photo: Nicole Hernandez #TurtleMonth #Desert #Tortoise #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Sonoran #Mojave

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Hitting the Road? Plan to lend your support to the Desert Tortoise Council this Saturday! #TurtleMonth is almost... Photo: Cameron Rognan, 1st Place Winner, Tortoise Conservation category, 51st Symposium Photo Contest #Desert #Tortoise #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Sonoran #Mojave 🧪 #science

Hitting the Road? Plan to lend your support to the Desert Tortoise Council this Saturday!

#TurtleMonth is almost over and World Turtle Day is the 23rd of May! The kids are almost out of school and it’s time for vacation. Wherever you may roam, wherever you may wander, keep an eye out for tortoises and turtles as you drive! If you’re visiting beaches in the Eastern U.S. watch out for nesting Diamondback Terrapins along causeway roads. Lakes and forests are home to freshwater turtles and box turtles that are also on the move scoping out nest sites or shortcuts to mushrooms. Here in the desert, keep an eye out for this desert icon. Crossing roads is a dangerous business and you can help- by slowing down just a bit, and by not being a distracted driver. If you are stopping to hike or sight-see some beautiful desert landscapes, check UNDER your car before you leave, you can save a life. Tortoises love that shade.

Enjoy your adventures and keep on helping tortoises and turtles! Save the Date for Saturday to Send your Support to the Desert Tortoise Council!

Photo: Cameron Rognan, 1st Place Winner, Tortoise Conservation category, 51st Symposium Photo Contest
#Desert #Tortoise #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Sonoran #Mojave

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

NASA!!! Hear me out! I have a design proposal for your next generation of Mars Rovers… We have grown up on the images from Sojourner and Spirit, and 14 years were great runs for Opportunity and *Curiosity, *still active, and Perseverance may... #Desert #tortoise #NASA #Rovers #TurtleMonth

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Out to Lunch : Back in One Hour #Desert #Tortoise #Conservation #Reptile #Mojave #Sonoran #TurtleMonth Photo: Alice Huslander, 1st Place, Captive Desert Tortoises category, 51st Annual Symposium Photo Contest

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

a successful endeavor.” Work like this is made possible by your support. Consider celebrating #TurtleMonth and #WorldTurtleDay with a contribution to the Desert Tortoise Council. deserttortoise.org/donate/ Photos: Maribel Lopez, Andres Galindo,Taylor Dee, Nathan Shoutis, Ashley Spenceley

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

face of attempts at integration and eradication and to teach current scientific methods for surveying and monitoring the region's tortoise population into the future. The people at the Prescott College Kino Bay Center provided the necessary logistical support and connections to make this...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Desert Tortoise study plot on the adjacent mainland to monitor population trends over time. The biocultural goal was simple, to build a bridge across the Desert Tortoise; to both learn from the Comcaac community about how they have lived on the land and sea in this region for so long in the...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

it is to be a part of the land and not to conquer it. The primary scientific goals of the expedition were two-fold: to repeat a 2001 Desert Tortoise survey on Tiburon Island to determine if the population had undergone any recovery or further decline, and secondly, to establish a long-term...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

The remarkably intact landscape and coastline beckons an explorer's spirit. The large expanses of roadless Sonoran Desert and undeveloped coastline serve as both a reminder of what has been lost elsewhere and hope that it can one day be again, should we learn from indigenous communities what...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Tiburón Island, Post 2: Mercy Vaughn- “Home to the Comcaac people for over 4,000 years, this region is both culturally and biologically rich.... #Desert #Tortoise #Mexico #Conservation #Reptile #Sonoran #Tiburón Photos: Maribel Lopez, Andres Galindo,Taylor Dee, Nathan Shoutis, Ashley Spenceley

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Don’t Judge Me! I have a very discerning palate… Tell us what you think this Desert Tortoise is eating in the comments! This photo reminds me of the story of two rival paleontologists….. #Desert #Tortoise #TurtleMonth #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Sonoran #Mojave 🧪#science

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

In your eyes, the light, the heat… While living in the desert is sure to provide a creature with warmth and rays, #Desert #Tortoise #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Sonoran #Mojave #TurtleMonth #science 🧪 Photo: Steve Fram, 3rd Place “Wild Tortoises” Category, 51st Symposium Photo Contest

In your eyes, the light, the heat…

While living in the desert is sure to provide a creature with warmth and rays, Desert Tortoise physiology requires sunlight and heat for proper functioning! A lot of us would say the same for ourselves wouldn't we?

Tortoises absorb the “Ultraviolet B” wavelength of light which allows them to produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D in turn allows them to metabolise Calcium which is necessary for healthy bone and shell growth and, egg shell production! They know when to take a break and not get baked though! This is where it gets interesting…. Tortoises have a “third eye!”.... We’re not talking about achieving enlightenment in the spiritual sense, nor an actual eye in the traditional sense. We are discussing the “parietal eye” which is a bundle of light sensitive nerves on the top of their head! This bundle of nerves acts like a light sensor, similar to the sensors on your garden lights that come on after the sun sets. This little feature lets the tortoise know that it has absorbed a sufficient amount of UVB for its activities, and tells it to, in fact, seek unlightenment…

#Desert #Tortoise #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Sonoran #Mojave #Mexico #Arizona #Nevada #Utah #California #TurtleMonth

Photo: Steve Fram, 3rd Place “Wild Tortoises” Category, 51st Symposium Photo Contest

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Work like this is made possible by your support. Consider celebrating #TurtleMonth and #WorldTurtleDay with a contribution to the Desert Tortoise Council. deserttortoise.org/donate/ Photos: Maribel Lopez, Andres Galindo, Taylor Dee, Nathan Shoutis #Desert #Tortoise #Mexico #Sonoran #Tiburón

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

social justice. They provide training and support for students, scientists, educators and community members, and build platforms for collaborations between different cultures and institutions to co-create long-term conservation solutions based on science, local knowledge and education....

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Gopherus morafkai), on Tiburón Island in the Gulf of California and the adjacent mainland. The Prescott College Kino Bay Center located in Kino Bay, Sonora, was established in 1991. The Center's leaders and staff are committed to experiential education, environmental sustainability and...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Prescott College Kino Bay Center with support from the Desert Tortoise Council, embarked on an expedition to the land of the indigenous Comcaac community in Sonora, Mexico to learn, to teach, and to get a snapshot of the current status of Morafka's Desert Tortoise (Sonoran Desert Tortoise,

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Tiburón Island, Post 1: In November, a highly experienced team of 40 Desert Tortoise biologists from the U.S. and Mexico and in partnership with the... Photos: Maribel Lopez, Andres Galindo, Taylor Dee, Nathan Shoutis #Desert #Tortoise #Mexico #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Sonoran #Tiburón

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

#FindThatTortoise Write “Spotted!” in the comments if you see me! It's naptime on Tiburón Island in the Gulf of California! Naps are more peaceful when visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations can’t find you. #Desert #Tortoise #Mexico #Reptile #Sonora #Science 🧪 #TurtleMonth 📸: Adrian Slade

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I Can Tell That We are Gonna be Friends! What's not to love about a Gila Monster hanging.. #TurtleMonth #Desert #Tortoise #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Sonoran #Mojave #Utah #Nevada #California #Mexico Photo: James Vanas, 2nd Place “Other Desert Animals” category, 51st Symposium Photo Contest

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Looking for me? I'm Underground! Clark County, Nevada! Will Mojave Max break his Record? Mojave Max watch - the Desert Tortoise weather prognosticator is still brumating at Springs Preserve - he's now just 2 weeks away from his latest emergence date (May 8 in 2025) ever!... Photo: Mojave Max

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

‘Shell’ Yeah! Desert Tortoises Available for Adoption in Utah The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is seeking adoptive owners for 15 desert tortoises... #Desert #Tortoise #Utah #Conservation #Reptile #turtle #Mojave Photo: Mojave Desert Tortoise, Jeff Servoss, Public Domain

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day! Every Year from April 22nd, through World Turtle Day® on May 23rd, we celebrate Desert Tortoises all #TurtleMonth long!... Photo: Cameron Rognan, 1st Place Winner, Wild Tortoises category, 51st Symposium Photo Contest #Desert #Tortoise #EarthDay #Conservation #Sonoran #Mojave

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Attendees of last month's 51st Annual DTC Symposium should have just received an email from us. A reminder that you will have access to the symposium session recordings for TWO MORE WEEKS! In that email you will find the link and password to view the recordings. Photo: Becca Cozad

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Congratulations to Lourdes Gabriela Canizales Juárez, Biologist | Master´s Degree Student (Master of Science in Natural Resources), Sonora Institute of Technology (ITSON), Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México, on her winning proposal for the 2026 David J. Morafka Memorial Research Award. As part of the...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Monday? No thanks, I'll just stay right here... Photo: Adrian Slade From the DTC supported, November 2025 expedition to Tiburon Island in the Gulf of California and the adjacent mainland.

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Check Your Email.... Attendees of last month's 51st Annual DTC Symposium should have just received an email from us. You will have access to the symposium session recordings for the month of April! In that email you… Photo: Maria Belen Luzuriaga (DTC supported survey work last year in Mexico.)

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Tortoises Rescued From Dig Site At Joshua Tree National Park www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2026/03/tort...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 West Mojave Landscape Resilience and Desert Tortoise Recovery Partnership (RASP) 2026 Request for Proposals (RFP)! In 2026, the West Mojave Landscape Resilience and RASP will provide funding to...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Responsible OHV recreationalists and conservationists all LOVE the desert and its wildlife. We are all stakeholders and stewards. With that, comes the responsibility to recognize when a certain way of land management harms the most sensitive areas of the desert we love, and to adjust accordingly,

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Court Halts Construction of Utah Highway Through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area [Center for Biological Diversity] For Immediate Release: WASHINGTON— A U.S. District Court on Sunday granted a motion from conservation organizations to block ground-disturbing activities associated with...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

From the LA Times, This California reptile closed down a Mojave Desert haven for off-road racing… Since the 1970s, tortoise populations have fallen by 96% in some plots monitored by biologist Kristin Berry of the U.S. Geological Survey. www.latimes.com/environment/...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

The Desert Tortoise Council would like to thank long-time supporter Ecocentric, LLC for Co-Sponsoring this year's 51st Annual Symposium Pre-Conference Mixer on February 24th! ecocentricnv.com Register to attend in person, virtually, or for evening events! deserttortoise.org/annual-sympo...

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Desert Tortoise Council @deserttortoise.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

The Desert Tortoise Council would like to thank long-time supporter SNEI Biological for Co-Sponsoring this year's 51st Annual Symposium Pre-Conference Mixer on February 24th! www.snei.com Register to attend in person, virtually, or for evening events! deserttortoise.org/annual-sympo...

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