STOP Fort Irwin's Desert Tortoise Translocation
The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is listed as a federally protected, threatened species. This species is protected by state and federal endangered species acts-yet threats to its survival are numerous. Its numbers continue to decline, even after decades of research. The few remaining healthy populations of desert tortoises, and their habitats must be protected.
Destruction of tortoise-friendly habitat due to military expansion into areas of designated critical habitat, off-roading in non-designated areas, pollution, livestock grazing, dumping, wild land fires, and razing of land/construction have all played a negative (and often catastrophic) toll on these desert denizens-who have called the Mojave Desert their home for many thousands of years.
Enforcement of existing laws to protect desert tortoises and sensitive habitats are often ignored and are seldom enforced.
Most recently, the Congressionally approved translocation (moving) of 770 wild, federally protected desert tortoises-from their homes at Fort Irwin, California, to less suitable habitat on public lands in March, 2008 has resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. The tortoises were released during cold weather and were unable to dig burrows for protection - areas of release were far less suitable habitat for their foraging and shelter needs, the tortoises were moved in the middle of a drought, and the release area has a documented poulation of ill tortoises.
The Department of the Interior (DOI), Fort Iwrin, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), State Fish and Game Departments, and our elected officials must immediately halt further destruction of this species through "translocation",as well as the critical (and legally protected) habitats in which they survive until feasable and humane solutions can be found.
No government agency should be immune to the laws created to protect sensitive-and sometimes endangered species of plants and animals.
Please visit the Desert Tortoise Survival Alliance (DTSA) web pages for more information, or to join us as an Alliance organization.
The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is listed as a federally protected, threatened species. This species is protected by state and federal endangered species acts-yet threats to its survival are numerous. Its numbers continue to decline, even after decades of research. The few remaining healthy populations of desert tortoises, and their habitats must be protected.
Destruction of tortoise-friendly habitat due to military expansion into areas of designated critical habitat, off-roading in non-designated areas, pollution, livestock grazing, dumping, wild land fires, and razing of land/construction have all played a negative (and often catastrophic) toll on these desert denizens-who have called the Mojave Desert their home for many thousands of years.
Enforcement of existing laws to protect desert tortoises and sensitive habitats are often ignored and are seldom enforced.
Most recently, the Congressionally approved translocation (moving) of 770 wild, federally protected desert tortoises-from their homes at Fort Irwin, California, to less suitable habitat on public lands in March, 2008 has resulted in numerous injuries and deaths. The tortoises were released during cold weather and were unable to dig burrows for protection - areas of release were far less suitable habitat for their foraging and shelter needs, the tortoises were moved in the middle of a drought, and the release area has a documented poulation of ill tortoises.
The Department of the Interior (DOI), Fort Iwrin, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), State Fish and Game Departments, and our elected officials must immediately halt further destruction of this species through "translocation",as well as the critical (and legally protected) habitats in which they survive until feasable and humane solutions can be found.
No government agency should be immune to the laws created to protect sensitive-and sometimes endangered species of plants and animals.
Please visit the Desert Tortoise Survival Alliance (DTSA) web pages for more information, or to join us as an Alliance organization.
Are gravely concerned regarding the plight of the few remaining desert tortoises, and the critical habitats and areas of critical environmental concern in which they call home.
A recent "translocation" of over 700 desert tortoises at Fort Irwin, CA from favorable (and critical) habitat to less favorable habitat on public lands in March 2008, has resulted in numerous casualties.
This is unacceptable treatment of a federally listed, protected species.
Desert tortoises have inhabited our desert lands for thousands of years, and are in rapid decline to do numerous threats.
We ask that:
1. Current state and federal endangered species and habitat laws are enforced at all times.
2. That "translocation" of desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) and other sensitive species be halted immediately.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
I wrote to Brig. Gen. Robert B. Abrams in September 2009 to appeal to him to halt the plans to move more tortoises because the 2 prior moves were failures. What good is the Endangered Species Act if the military, companies and government is exempt. There is more. Along the 14 freeway from Mojave, CA to Ridgecrest is fencing specifically to prevent the Mojave Desert tortoises from becoming "road pizza" on the highway. In 2007 the Kern County Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning of this same land to wind/solar, residential, industrial and commercial development. Is it legal for them to defy a federal law? There are tortoise shells all around California City as well. A wind farm project was just approved in the Tehachapi Mts. along 9400 acres along Willow Springs Road. The endangered California condor and other birds of prey and flocks of turkey vultures inhabit the same space. Birds get clobbered by the blades that are 186 feet in length. Night migrations clash with them too. They can't see through fog, which is frequent throughout the area. LA Times article link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/08/desert-tortoise-endangered-species-army-training-.html
What is the government thinking. It has not worked in the past it will not work this time either. Remember the great Sea Otter debacle of the 80's.
Comments?
It is scientifically documented that Desert Tortoises maintain territories and have a fairly complex social structure and that they are severely stressed, often lethally, by translocation. These animals eke out a marginal existence in specific habitats. Their wide "range" is misleading because most of the space within the range is unsuitable.
Tortoises should be kept in their natural habitats. Not relocated.
