ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT DESERT TORTOISES
A GUIDE FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC
Kristin H. Berry & Timothy Duck
CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
APPENDIX 1
APPENDIX 2
APPENDIX 3

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WITH RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PROTECTING AND MANAGING DESERT TORTOISES AND THEIR HABITATS
Four State wildlife agencies and three Federal government agencies have the primary responsibilities for protecting and managing desert tortoise populations and their habitats: the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the California Department of Fish and Game, the Nevada Division of Wildlife, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are several other agencies that manage desert tortoise habitats, including the Department of Defense, the U.S. Forest Service, and California Energy Commission, but their roles are not as extensive. The U.S. Geological Survey is responsible for conducting long-term monitoring and research on desert tortoise population trends, ecology and subjects related to recovery.

In addition to these agencies, Clark County, Nevada, and Washington County, Utah, have implemented Habitat Conservation Plans in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under section 10 of the Endangered Species Act. The following information is a very brief outline of the major functions of some of these agencies.

This tortoise has part of an alien annual grass known as Arab or Mediterranean grass in its mandibles.

In parts of the geographic range of the desert tortoise, habitat has been altered, damaged, or destroyed. Many human-related activities have contributed to habitat deterioration and loss, including urbanization and development of land for agriculture, mining, transportation and utility corridors, and off-highway vehicle recreation. One widespread alteration to habitat has come from the invasion and proliferation of alien plants from other parts of the world. This tortoise has part of an alien annual grass known as Arab or Mediterranean grass in its mandibles. This alien grass is not a favored food plant for the tortoise and competes with native annual forage plants for water and nutrients. Photo by Mark Massar.

ARIZONA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME

UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES

U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

[ INDEX ] [ CHAPTER 1 ] [ CHAPTER 2 ] [ CHAPTER 3 ] [ CHAPTER 4 ] [ CHAPTER 5 ] [ CHAPTER 6 ] [ CHAPTER 7 ] [ APPENDIX 1 ] [ APPENDIX 2 ] [ APPENDIX 3 ]