Tortoise Tip

Tortoises should be tucked in their burrows by this time and not coming out. However, unusually warm weather has changed the normal brumation dates this year. Keep watching. A tortoise that does not go into brumation when may be sick. Please let us know by emailing info@tortoisegroup.org with the Subject Line Tortoise Still Out! We'll share the results of this survey. … [Read more...] about Is Your Tortoise Still Coming Out?

Why did my tortoise come out in the rain? Is it okay? Your tortoise has a natural instinct to get a drink whenever it rains. For a wild tortoise, it might be the only chance all year. So, summer or winter, your tortoise may appear. Mine came out of deep hibernation for a drink last January! No need to worry. Allow your tortoise to walk around or drink. You may want to watch to be sure it returns to the burrow. Watch for burrow flooding In rainy weather, burrow flooding is always … [Read more...] about What should I do when it rains?

Protect the burrow opening from cold. Your desert tortoise should be snoozing in ideal brumation temperatures now, 35°-50° F. However, the weather forecast for Las Vegas shows temperatures as low as 23° December 5-12. So, especially if we have wind, protect the air in the burrow from getting too cold during this cold spell. You can wad up some newspaper, tape it with masking tape to hold its shape, and stuff it into the burrow opening. You can see that the opening is not sealed but allows … [Read more...] about Help the burrow hold its temperature

Help the burrow hold its temperature. Clean leaves and other litter out of the mouth of the burrow. If you put a newspaper bundle in the mouth of the burrow earlier this month, remove it now. Replace if the weather turns cold and windy again. Register your tortoise to make it legally yours! If you haven't yet taken this simple step, now's the perfect time. Register your tortoise here... Your tortoise is already legally yours only if you: Got your tortoise before August 9, 1989 (when … [Read more...] about 3 Steps to Caring for Your Tortoise In Winter

February is a great time for planting browsing plants and dandelions, too. This photo shows a tortoise eating showy globe mallow. The branches of the nearby grape rest on the ground for easy browsing and will create a nice house for summer snoozing. Available at many nurseries now are: Yellow bells Globe mallow Thompson seedless grape Desert Willow Hall's honeysuckle Harvest some dandelions that have gone to seed. Sow the fluffy white seeds in a damp spot and cover lightly. … [Read more...] about Time to Prune and Plant