Tortoise Awareness Copper Mountain College Joshua Tree, CA 92252

Tortoise Awareness Program Copper Mountain College (CMC) provides a Tortoise Awareness Program to college employees and construction contractors working in desert tortoise habitat within the designated campus expansion area. The desert tortoise is listed by both the California Fish and Game Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a threatened species.

Purpose of Tortoise Education Program Increase awareness and understanding of the desert tortoise Provide guidelines for work in desert tortoise habitat Encourage compliance with Federal and State Endangered Species Acts Prevent “take” (i.e., injury, harassment, or death) of desert tortoises resulting from authorized activities by college employees and contractors.

Contacts for Tortoise Emergencies –CMC Field Contact Representative Dan Cain (760) (x5295) –CMC Tortoise Biologist Paul Delaney (760) (x0257) –USFWS Authorized Biologists: Circle Mountain Biological Consultants (Ed LaRue, Sharon Dougherty)…. (760) –Tortoise Veterinarian at Hi Desert Animal Hospital Dr. Steven Davis, D.V.M. (760) –Joshua Tree Tortoise Rescue (760)

Contacts for Permit Coordination Federal protection of tortoises: –U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Judy Hohman, (805) State protection of tortoises: –California Department of Fish and Game Becky Jones, (805) Authorized Biologists (to handle tortoises) –Circle Mountain Biological Consultants Ed LaRue, Sharon Dougherty, (760)

“Typical” Tortoise Activity - 1 Always be alert for the presence of desert tortoises, regardless of these generalizations: Tortoises are most active from mid-February through late June and again during September and October. They may also be active during the summer, but don’t range far from their burrows when temperatures are very hot. During the spring and late fall, they may be active throughout the day. During summer they are typically active in the morning and evening. Tortoises are particularly active during or following rainfall.

Adam, a CMC campus tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) last seen near Phase III in 2006

“Typical” Tortoise Activity - 2 Juvenile tortoises may be active throughout the year and at night. Hatchling tortoises are about the size of a silver dollar. For this reason, speeds should be reduced on unpaved roads in tortoise habitat. Most tortoises hatch during the fall, although small tortoises may be seen at anytime.

Juvenile Desert Tortoise

“Typical” Tortoise Activity - 3 Desert tortoises may be found in burrows up to 30 feet in length. You may walk or drive over a burrow without ever seeing the entrance. Tortoises may crawl under parked vehicles and equipment because they provide shade during the heat of the day. Areas where the desert tortoise is most likely to be encountered include locations with limited or no development.

Juvenile Desert Tortoise

Desert Tortoise Burrow in Joshua Tree Woodlands Habitat

Adult Desert Tortoise Burrow

Desert Tortoise Scat

Tortoise Telemetry in Joshua Tree National Park

Tortoise Telemetry Equipment

Measuring Environmental Conditions Near Desert Tortoise Burrows

Threats To Desert Tortoise And Reasons For Their Decline- 1 Off-highway vehicle use Destruction of vegetation Destruction of burrows Disturbance and stress Development of desert towns and cities Habitat loss Introduction of predators (ravens, coyotes, cats, and dogs) Diseases (URTD, shell disease, mycoplasmosis, Herpesvirus) Roads Alien Plants

Threats To Desert Tortoise And Reasons For Their Decline- 2 Dramatically increased populations of ravens in the Mojave. –Ravens are known to prey upon juvenile tortoises. Construction sites with trash are known to attract ravens. Thousands of desert tortoises have been taken into captivity as pets. –It is illegal. But, tortoises born in captivity or that were captive since before they became protected may be registered with the California Department of Fish and Game. When a captive tortoise becomes sick or is unwanted, people often release them back in the desert, infecting wild tortoises. –Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD), a fatal disease that has decimated many tortoise populations in the Mojave Desert, is thought to have been introduced from released captives.

Permits, Terms And Conditions For Construction Projects Under State and Federal Endangered Species Acts, special incidental take permits are required for most construction and ground-clearing activities in desert tortoise habitat. If a tortoise is harmed by unauthorized activities or by invited contractors who have not attended an awareness program, the District and/or contractor may be liable for penalties.

Tortoise Protective Measures Required By State & Federal Permits - 1 All workers must attend a desert tortoise awareness program prior to beginning work They must sign the form indicating they will help implement protective measures. Authorized Biologists shall be on-site for all activities that may harm desert tortoises. Ground-disturbing activities shall not occur in the absence of a Designated Biologist or outside fenced areas previously cleared of tortoises. Tortoises may be handled ONLY by the Authorized Biologist. College employees, construction contractors, etc. are not authorized to handle tortoises under any circumstance. All tortoises should be immediately reported to the Authorized Biologist (Ed LaRue), Field Contact Representative (Dan Cain, x 5295), and/or the District Biologist (Paul Delaney, x0257).

Tortoise Protective Measures Required By State & Federal Permits - 2 Trash and food items shall be contained in closed, raven-proof containers and removed at least once a week to avoid attracting predators such as ravens, coyotes, and stray dogs. All equipment, vehicles, and materials associated with the project should be kept within designated areas. Firearms and domestic dogs shall be prohibited from the project site and site access routes during construction and development of the project. Construction personnel are asked to check beneath their vehicles for tortoises. If one is observed, the tortoise must either be removed by the Authorized Biologist or allowed to move away on its own and immediately reported to the Authorized Biologist and/or Field Contact Representative.

Tortoise Protective Measures Required By State & Federal Permits - 3 Personnel shall access the site via Rotary Way or other designated access routes. No cross-country travel outside designated and/or fenced areas is authorized. Construction-related vehicle speeds shall not exceed 20 mph along designated access routes.

Desert Tortoise Petroglyph, Joshua Tree National Park

Tortoise Awareness Program Sign-up Sheet This must be signed by each person attending program. Your signature on that sheet indicates that you understand that the desert tortoise is protected by law, and that you are willing to abide by the protective measures given in State and Federal incidental take permits to avoid violation of State and Federal Endangered Species Acts, respectively.

CMC Employee and Contractors Each will be given a placard to place in his/her vehicle to remind him/her to check beneath the vehicle for tortoises. Decals to be displayed on hard-hats are also provided to indicate that the employee has been through this training. Tortoise Awareness Program sign-up sheets are maintained by CMC and sent to the federal and state regulatory agencies (CDFG & USFWS).

HANDS OFF PARDNER Protected By Law!

Some DOs and DON’Ts DOs Drive slowly and watch for desert tortoises crossing the road Check under vehicles for desert tortoises before driving Dispose of trash properly to keep ravens away Park construction equipment in designated areas DON’Ts Pick up or touch tortoises Remove tortoises from the desert Release pet tortoises in the desert Drive off-road except for designated route to construction site Bring firearms or dogs to CMC

Thank You! For helping CMC protect endangered desert tortoises during campus construction projects For educating others about protecting tortoises