About:
Did you know tough scales on desert tortoise's legs protect them from the spines of many desert plants? Learn more about desert tortoises.
Care & Wellness:
Their wild counterparts use tunnels and burrows to escape temperature extremes and danger, our desert tortoises have access to a built-in den off of their large habitat to encourage this natural behavior.
They can eat the desert plants in their habitat in between the “salads” that are fed 3 times per week.
Behavior:
- Their solitary lifestyle often leads to confrontation between males.
- Their burrows can be deep, up to 30 ft long, and serve as protection from extreme temperatures and predators.
- To escape harsher winter conditions, they hibernate from about November - March.
Endangered Status
- Extinct in Wild (EW)
- Critically Endangered (CR)
- Endangered (EN)
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Near Threatened (NT)
- Least Concern (LC)
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Fun Facts:
- Tough scales on the legs protect them from spines on many desert plants.
- Although they do drink when water is present, most of their moisture comes from plants they eat.
- Desert tortoises play an important role in dispersing seeds in their feces throughout their habitat.
- All types of animals rely on their burrows for shelter in the desert.
