Desert tortoises offer a unique alternative to more traditional family pets. While they are not like a traditional pet that enjoys being held and touched frequently, caregivers can gain an appreciation of desert wildlife by caring for a tortoise and watching its natural behavior. Desert tortoises are available for adoption only to residents in the Phoenix, Bullhead City, Kingman, Lake Havasu, Tucson, and Yuma areas. Before adopting a desert tortoise, we strongly encourage you to learn more about them and the care they require. The following Web pages provide information on desert tortoise adoption and care.
Basic Captive Desert Tortoise Requirements
Regulations
Per Arizona Game and Fish Commission Rule R12-4-407 A.1, "An individual may possess, transport, or give away a desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) without a special license if that individual possessed it before April 28, 1989. An individual who possessed a desert tortoise before this date may propagate it, and hold offspring in captivity for 24 months from the date of hatching. The individual shall dispose of the offspring of desert tortoises before or at the end of the 24 months by giving them as a gift or as directed in writing by the Department. An individual who receives a desert tortoise that is given away under this Section is also exempt from the special license requirements. An individual shall not export a desert tortoise from this state unless authorized in writing by the Department."
Per Arizona Game and Fish Commission Order 43, "Possession limit is one desert tortoise per person." The Tortoise Adoption Program Guidelines (last revised January 2008), state that you may adopt one desert tortoise per household.
Find out what to do if you encounter a desert tortoise
Contact Information
Cristina Jones
Turtles Project Coordinator
623-236-7767
cjones@azgfd.gov
Audrey Owens
Turtles Project Biologist
623-236-7504
aowens@azgfd.gov |
