Tortoise Group has been educating and advocating for the protection and well-being of the desert tortoise since 1982.
Tortoise Group is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
What Tortoise Group offers:
- Legal adoption of desert tortoises in Nevada
- Citizen science volunteer opportunities to help wild populations and their natural habitat
- Consultation visits to homes and institutions, including recommendations for providing suitable backyard tortoise habitats
- Printed and online material on the care of pet tortoises and related topics
- Six general meeting programs from March through October with guest speakers
- Speakers for school classes, adult and youth groups
- Personalized answers to inquiries about pet and wild desert tortoises
- Four wellness clinics in Las Vegas for pet desert tortoises
- Biology internship program
Personalized Answers to your Inquiries
Call or e-mail to ask your questions about desert tortoises. Speak directly to a Tortoise Group representative. No question is too small. Contact us through Facebook, email, or call the hotline.
Tortoise Group Staff
Sarah Mortimer, Executive Director
Sarah Mortimer joined Tortoise Group as the Adoption Coordinator in September 2015. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology with an emphasis in zoology from Northern Arizona University. Sarah has always had a love for animals and an interest in nature. She studied locomotion and limb morphology in mice for her undergraduate research project. Her passion for animals makes it simple for her to be enthusiastic about educating the public about desert tortoises! In her free time, Sarah loves being outdoors hiking, camping, and rockhounding.
Sarah Mortimer joined Tortoise Group as the Adoption Coordinator in September 2015. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology with an emphasis in zoology from Northern Arizona University. Sarah has always had a love for animals and an interest in nature. She studied locomotion and limb morphology in mice for her undergraduate research project. Her passion for animals makes it simple for her to be enthusiastic about educating the public about desert tortoises! In her free time, Sarah loves being outdoors hiking, camping, and rockhounding.
Dianne McClain, Board Chair
I traveled a winding road to Tortoise Group. I was lucky to spend 42 years in dentistry, 25 of them in the treatment of the medically compromised. I earned my B.S. from the University of Southern California in 1970. After a number of years, I was honored to be accepted to Columbia University’s School of Human Nutrition, from which I graduated in 1982 with a Masters in Science. My research at Columbia led me to apply to Harvard’s School of Dental Medicine where I could combine my biochemistry/nutrition background and research with medicine in the treatment of medically compromised patients. After earning my DMD and MPH from HSDM and Harvard School of Public Health, I spent 5 years at UCLA running a residency program before joining the VA where I also ran their residency program. After 20 years at the VA, I retired and moved to Las Vegas with my husband Michael. When a contractor gave us two female tortoises in 2012, I realized I knew nothing about caring for the desert tortoise so we joined Tortoise Group. Michael and I have spent the last four years enjoying our girls, volunteering for TG, and making great friends.
Charles Born, Adoption Coordinator
Before there were tortoises in my life there were Cocker Spaniels. I spent the first 40 plus years of my life living with a kennel of AKC championship Cocker Spaniels. When my career as a globally-based Chief Marketing Officer demanded continual travel, we closed the breeding program and the kennel. In 2014 we retired to Henderson. Although we have no dogs, we are owned by two spoiled rescue cats Elsa and Zar, and the always hungry, always on the move desert tortoise named Teddy. I have to say Mojave Desert tortoises fascinate me. It’s not a wonder people love their tortoises. It is a pleasure to work with the many Tortoise Group volunteers who are passionate about our Mojave tortoise friends. Being the adoption coordinator reminds me of my days of carefully placing my cocker puppies into new homes. I get such pleasure watching the excitement of new owners when they see their new tortoise friends. Thanks to each one of you who has opened up your homes to our desert tortoises. As we like to say, save a tortoise – save the environment
Before there were tortoises in my life there were Cocker Spaniels. I spent the first 40 plus years of my life living with a kennel of AKC championship Cocker Spaniels. When my career as a globally-based Chief Marketing Officer demanded continual travel, we closed the breeding program and the kennel. In 2014 we retired to Henderson. Although we have no dogs, we are owned by two spoiled rescue cats Elsa and Zar, and the always hungry, always on the move desert tortoise named Teddy. I have to say Mojave Desert tortoises fascinate me. It’s not a wonder people love their tortoises. It is a pleasure to work with the many Tortoise Group volunteers who are passionate about our Mojave tortoise friends. Being the adoption coordinator reminds me of my days of carefully placing my cocker puppies into new homes. I get such pleasure watching the excitement of new owners when they see their new tortoise friends. Thanks to each one of you who has opened up your homes to our desert tortoises. As we like to say, save a tortoise – save the environment
