Tortoise Awareness

Copper Mountain College

Joshua Tree, CA 92252

Copper Mountain College Habitat Conservation Plan

Recognizing its community role as an environmental steward,

Copper Mountain College established a Habitat Conservation Plan

in 2006 to protect habitat and threatened species during college

construction and operations.

Funding provided by the Copper Mountain College Foundation, the Desert Tortoise

Council, and the Mojave Water Agency.

HANDS OFF PARDNERProtected By Law!

The desert tortoise is listed by both the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a threatened species.

Purpose of Tortoise Education Program

• Increase awareness and understanding of tortoises

• Provide guidelines for work in tortoise habitat

• Encourage compliance with Federal and State

Endangered Species Acts

• Prevent “take” (i.e., injury, harassment, or death) of

tortoises resulting from activities by CMC

employees and contractors.

Contacts

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

(Scott Hoffman) (760) 322-2070

• U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

(Joan Patrovsky) (760) 252-6032

• California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)

San Bernardino County (Rebecca Jones) (661) 285-5867

• CMC: Paul Delaney, Authorized Biologist (760) 366-3791 (x0257)

• Circle Mountain Biological Consultants, Ed LaRue and Sharon

Dougherty (760) 249-4948

• Tortoise Veterinarian, Hi Desert Animal Hospital: Dr. Steven Davis,

D.V.M. (760) 367-9511

• Joshua Tree Tortoise Rescue, Heidi Saunders (760) 490-2818

More Information: https://www.cmccd.edu/tortoise-awareness/

“Typical” Tortoise Activity - 1Always 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 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) 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

Measuring Environmental Conditions Near

Desert Tortoise Burrows

Desert Tortoise Scat

CMC Students – Tortoise Telemetry Project

Funding and equipment provided by the Desert Tortoise Council and US Geological Survey

Threats To Desert Tortoise And

Reasons For Their Decline

• Off-highway vehicle use

• Destruction of vegetation

• Destruction of burrows

• Disturbance and stress

• Development of desert towns and cities

• Habitat loss

• Predators (ravens, coyotes, cats, and dogs)

• Diseases (URTD, mycoplasmosis, Herpesvirus)

• Roads

• Alien Plants

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.

Federal Register Vol. 72, No. 45

To minimize adverse effects to the desert tortoise and its habitat

during construction and operation of facilities, Copper Mountain

College will:

-provide on-site biological monitoring during construction

-perform pre-project clearance surveys

-conduct desert tortoise education programs for personnel

-use exclusion fencing to prevent tortoises from entering work areas

-meet reporting requirements

-appoint a field contact representative to oversee compliance

-post-construction measures to minimize effects from use of newfacilities

Tortoise Protective Measures

Required By State & Federal Permits - 1

• All employees and contractors must attend 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, contractors, etc. are not authorized to handle tortoises under any circumstances

• All tortoises should be immediately reported to the Authorized Biologist (Paul Delaney, x0257, pdelaney@cmccd.edu), or to the Field Contact Representative (CMC’s Maintenance and Operations Supervisor, 366-3791 x 5295).

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 site.

• Personnel are asked to check beneath their vehicles for tortoises.

• If a tortoise is observed on campus, it 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 Preserve

CMC Campus

Fencing Map from CMC Habitat Conservation Plan 2006.rom CMC Habitat Conservation Plan 2006.

Tortoise Protective Measures

Required By State & Federal Permits - 3

• Personnel shall access the site via Rotary Way, Congressman Lewis Drive or other designated 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.

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).

Tortoise Awareness Program

Sign-In Sheet

• 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.

Tortoise Awareness

DOs

• Drive slowly and watch for tortoises crossing roads

• Check under vehicles for tortoises before driving

• Dispose of trash properly to keep ravens away

• Park in designated areas

DON’Ts

• Pick up or touch tortoises

• Remove tortoises from the desert

• Release pet tortoises

• Drive off-road except for designated routes

• Bring firearms or dogs to CMC

Thank You!For helping protect threatened desert tortoises

https://www.cmccd.edu/tortoise-awareness/