Tortoise Awareness Copper Mountain College Joshua Tree, CA 92252
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, [email protected]), 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/