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WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A TORTOISE IN A NON-DESERT CITY OR TOWN
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| Most tortoises found in towns and cities away from the desert have been captives
for many years, often decades. For example, over 60,000 captive tortoises live in residential
areas in California such as the greater Los Angeles area, the vicinity of San Diego, and the Central Valley.
There are also captives in Arizona and Nevada. Sometimes they have been "owned" by many people.
If the tortoise has a hole drilled in the shell or numbers or colors painted on it, it probably has
been a captive for some time. In California, if it has an official Department of Fish and Game
sticker with a registration number, Fish and Game officials can locate the owners through the registration
system. Even if there are no obvious signs of captivity, you must assume that the tortoise is an escaped
captive.
Tortoises that have escaped their owners and are wandering the streets of your town are likely to be
crushed by vehicles or killed by dogs. Please pick up the tortoise and call an appropriate group or agency. |
| ARIZONA
Call the Arizona Game and Fish Department Turtles Project at (623)
236-7504, or contact the nearest adoption facility (below). |
Bullhead City, Kingman,
and Lake Havasu | AGFD Region III
Office | (928) 692-7700 |
| Phoenix: | Phoenix
Herpetological Society | (602) 550-7029 |
| Yuma: | AGFD
Region IV Office | (928) 342-0091 |
| Tucson: | Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum | (520) 883-3062 |
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CALIFORNIA
In California, call the nearest California Turtle and Tortoise Club
Chapter.
If the tortoise possesses an official registration number, the Adoption Chair can determine
the owner. If the tortoise has no sticker and the owner cannot be located, the tortoise will be taken
by a representative of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club. A new home will be found for the
tortoise and it will be officially registered with the State. See Adopting a
Captive Tortoise for a Pet, for information on the people in charge of Adoptions.
NEVADA
In Southern Nevada call the Tortoise Hotline at (702) 383-TORT or the Desert tortoise Conservation
Center Pickup Service Hotline (702) 593-9027. In Northern Nevada contact the
Reno Tur-Toise Club at (702) 972-7712. |
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UTAH
Contact the nearest Utah Division of Wildlife Resources office. |
| Salt Lake City | 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84114 | (801) 538-4700 |
| Central Region | 1115 North Main Street, Springville, UT 84663 | (801) 491-5678 |
| Northern Region | 515 East 5300 South, Odgen, UT 84405 | (801) 476-2740 |
| Southern Region | 1470 N. Airport Rd., Cedar City, UT 84721-0606 | (435) 865-6100 |
| | 344 E. Sunland Drive #8, St. George, UT 87490 | (435) 688-1426 |
| Northeastern Region | 152 East 100 North, Vernal, UT 84078 | (435) 781-9453 |
| Southeastern Region | 475 West Price River Drive Ste C, Price, UT 84501 | (435) 636-0260 |
 
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