28th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the
Desert Tortoise Council, February 21-23, 2003
Abstracts

California Department of Fish and Game and the Desert Tortoise, Our State Reptile

Rebecca Jones
California Department of Fish and Game, Habitat Conservation Program Eastern Sierra/Inland Deserts Region, 407 West Line Street, Bishop, CA 93514

Since 1939 state laws have been in place to protect the desert tortoise. In August of 1989, the tortoise was officially listed as threatened. The Department's mandate for protecting the tortoise is the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Section 2081 of the Fish and Game code, allows take with a permit for scientific, educational, management, or incidental take to an otherwise lawful activity provided the take is minimized and fully mitigated. In addition to the Take Permit, a Memorandum of Understanding for Handling Tortoises is needed and we must review the qualification of each person who applies for the MOU. The Department also issues Scientific Collecting Permits for research and studies on desert tortoise and permits for Possession of Captive Tortoises.

The Department, through the CESA permitting process, and by other means, has acquired over 30,000 acres of desert lands within recovery units. Along with the land, the Department has also collected enhancement and endowment fees for management of the lands. Fencing has been installed in some of the areas to exclude cattle grazing and off highway vehicle use.

The Department has also been a integral member of the West Mojave Plan, and has participated in the Northeastern Mojave, the Northeastern Colorado and other planning efforts that affect desert tortoise habitat. We are also active participants in the Desert Tortoise Management Oversight Group and the Desert Managers Group.

This past year the Department also funded long-term study plot surveys including blood work and necropsies for health and disease information. We co-hosted the Desert Tortoise Disease workshop. Enforcement activities resulted in the seizure of about fifty illegally possessed tortoises, with charges being filed against the perpetrators. We are also currently working with the California Tortoise and Turtle Club to improve permitting for captive tortoises.