Mojave Desert tortoises being relocated to expand Army training (Ft. Irwin)

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 4/3/08 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

Scientists have begun moving the Mojave Desert's flagship species, the desert tortoise, to make room for tank training at the Army's Fort Irwin despite protests by some conservationists.

The controversial project, billed as the largest desert tortoise move in California history, involves transferring 770 endangered reptiles from Army land to a dozen public plots overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Fort Irwin has sought to expand its 643,000-acre training site into tortoise territory for two decades. The Army said it needs an extra 131,000 acres to accommodate faster tanks and longer-range weapons used each month to train some 4,000 troops.

Desert tortoises are the longest-living reptiles in the Southwest with a potential life span of 100 years and can weigh up to 15 pounds. Their population has been threatened in recent years by urbanization, disease and predators including the raven.

Weeks before the relocation, two conservation groups threatened to sue Fort Irwin. The Center for Biological Diversity and Desert Survivors contend that the land set aside for the desert tortoises is too close to an interstate highway and is plagued with off-road vehicles and illegal dumping that would disturb the animals.

Fort Irwin lawyers and federal wildlife officials determined the claims were unfounded and decided to go ahead with the $8.5 million project. The process began last weekend and will last two weeks. The tortoises, including about 67 babies, are being moved into habitats approved by the U.S. Geological Survey and other experts.

"The translocation of tortoises is a very complex process," Fort Irwin spokesman John Wagstaffe said in a recent interview. "You have to move them gently and make sure they don't get stressed during the move."

About a year before the transfer, biologists tagged desert tortoises living in the proposed training expansion area with radio transmitters and took blood tests to make sure they were healthy.

Scientists have a short window to relocate the animals, which recently awakened from winter hibernation and will return to their burrows in the summer.

Last weekend, a group equipped with receivers scanned the desert for signs of the tagged tortoises, placed them in plastic containers and hauled them to their new home. They were given water and released.

Scientists will continue to monitor the relocated tortoises for signs of stress.

Research studies show relocated tortoises typically spend the first year roaming. Over time, they settle down and survive as well as tortoises that stayed put, said Roy Averill-Murray, desert tortoise recovery coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Reno, Nev.

"We're plopping them down in a new area that they're not familiar with so they spend the first year or so learning their surroundings and where the good burrow sites are," Averill-Murray said Thursday.

Averill-Murray helped plan the Fort Irwin project, but is not involved in the actual move.

[Snickersnee]

Now to Ft. Bragg and those @*!!@&* red-cockaded woodpeckers!

[fireforeffect]

About time.

I've seen a multimillion dollar exercise, involving thousands of troops and hundreds of vehicles and aircraft, come to a screeching halt because one of these things decided to go for a stroll.

And we could not move until the OC's had determined that was the only one on the move.

[mortal19440]

Relocate them to PA, we love Turtle Soup.

[Braak]

Considering what the Army has done for those things all those years...it’s a surprise this was not done sooner. The long haired hippies will, like the sonar decision...learn to “put some ice on it”

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It’s about time....

[The_Republican]

WOW. I was in Mojave Desert last week (Spring Break Vacation). Didn’t even see a damn sign or mention of any Tortoises. Otherwise, I would have at least tried to find the areas where they can either be spotted or even seen in captivity. Haven been there many times but must be a slightly different area.

Been in the Area 4 times now. Passed Bakersfield. Next time will try to find the location.

RECOMMENDATION:

If you are headed to Vegas, off of Route I-15 you can take CIMA ROAD or KELSO BAKER EXIT and that is one giant loop. You can run into the Visitor Center near Kelso Depot.

Do the ‘Hole in the Wall’ Trail! Its one of the best. First 2 miles are most beautiful. It Starts at a Campground with the same name and goes to ‘Midhills Campground’.

You can DRIVE between the two Camps and can do BOTH ends of the Trail. There is Spring right now so Desert is BLOOMING.

Also do the KELSO SAND DUNES, specially at Sunset.

Thank me later!

[mdittmar]

Arnaud's Turtle Soup au Sherry

• 1/4 cup salt
• 3/4 cup fresh or frozen turtle meat
• 3/4 cup ground veal shank meat
• 6 cups veal stock
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 pinch whole dried thyme
• 3 tablespoons tomato pureé
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 1 cup green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup white onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 lemons, halved
• 3 tablespoons sherry
• 2 eggs, hard-boiled and chopped
• 2 tablespoons roux
• Salt and white pepper to taste

Combine eight quarts of water and half the salt in each of two large pots and bring to a boil over high heat. Place the turtle meat in one, the veal in the other, and simmer both for 45 minutes. Remove both pots from heat, drain the meat, and chop both meats coarsely in a food processor. Keep warm until needed.

Place the veal stock, garlic, bay leaves, and thyme in a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the tomato pureé, vegetables, parsley and lemons, and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the two kinds of meat and the sherry. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the eggs, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Thicken by adding small amounts of the roux.

Add a final splash of sherry to each individual bowl when serving, if desired.

Serves six.

Yum

[goldstategop]

Not bad for 770 desert critters:

Mojave Desert Tortoise

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[NormsRevenge]

I love it when the desert blooms,, Cool.

and those tortoises are sneaky... and very good at blending in. ;-)

[fireforeffect]

The problem has always been that the land belongs to CA and is only leased.

[VeniVidiVici]

Now to Ft. Bragg and those @*!!@&* red-cockaded woodpeckers!

There too? We had to deal with them at Ft Polk also.

[NormsRevenge]

there’s a lesson there, maybe,, just think how much power conservatives will have as an endangered species in a few years, at the rate this country is going, ya never know. . ;-)

[fireforeffect]

Near Barstow.

Look for the garden nome sized fences along the road.

[The_Republican]

Thanks! Barstow is about 60 miles from Baker (home of tallest Thermometer). We were in Baker area. Next time will make effort to find it.

[O Neill]

And they are known to be VERY slow...preferring DSL to Comcast's high-speed internet service...

[waimea.man]

I was in the Mojave Desert last week also (and Death Valley). The Desert Tortoise Preserve is just northeast of California City, which is about 50 miles west of Ft. Irwin. Check it out.

[The_Republican]

Thanks for guidance. Will do so next time hopefully soon.

[waimea.man]

It’s also called the Desert Tortoise Natural Area. There’s a small visitor kiosk, restrooms, and some interpretive trails.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://www.itemonline.com/local/local_story_093235303.html

Fair exhibitor looking for lost tortoise

By Kristin Edwards
Staff Reporter

Walker County Fair exhibitor Jimmy Calhoun is offering a cash reward for the safe return of an African Spur Thigh Tortoise which escaped from its cage at the Walker County Fairgrounds late Tuesday night.

According to Calhoun, the 80-pound tortoise was last seen in the back parking lot of the fairgrounds at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday and was more than likely taken out of the area.

*****

They are not as tasty as a snapping turtle.:)