Adopting Desert Tortoises is hard (Answer to why)

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Posted by Lori Green (Turtle Homes Rescue) on August 01, 2001 at 09:56:37:

In Reply to: Re: Venting about Tortoise adoption (long) posted by Theresa on July 31, 2001 at 22:55:41:

Justin,
I am sorry you are confused about your Fish and Wildlife regulations. I feel for both you and them. I wish this was not so easy to answer but it is. The problem is the same for all states.
Desert Tortoises die if taken out of their native area. Even taking them from one area in California and moving them to a similar but different area could kill them. Mortality is high. Many are also infected with mycoplasma. They can live with it but do transmit it to other tortoises who can't. It isn't something specific to desert tortoises. Reports of box turtle and gopher tortoise outbreakes are coming in this summer too. They are also highly protected animals and Fish and Wildlife may want someone who can concentrate on just them. While you may take really good care of a large collection not everyone does and they may be worried about cross contamination. Remember they don't know you and you get lumped in with the good, bad and ugly.
As someone who does turtle and tortoise adoption everyday I can tell you that I do sometimes look for the newbie over the experienced. There are certain instances where someone with no other turtles are preferred.
I had a diamondback here that would break out in blisters no matter how clean the water was. It turned out to be a ph problem but when I choose someone for it, I choose them because they did not have other aquatics. This turtle is a lone baby and is being doted over. I suspected a ph sensitivity but wasn't compleatly sure until the new person took it and the animal was better in their water than the water here.
Unfortunatly desert tortoises can't cross state lines so getting one from out of state is not legal. You would need the permit anyway.
Let Fish and Wildlife come. Maybe dealing with the inspector while actually on your property is easier than dealing with a secretary who fills out the paperwork.

Lori

:
: Justin,
: If someone has babies in another state where they are not native, can they legaly adopt to you?
: tcc

: : History: Growing up as a kid, my grandparents owned and bred desert torts. After I moved away from my home in AZ, my grandparents gave them away. Now I have returned to AZ, I have a love for tortoises and currenlty have 24 of them covering 9 different species.
: : Yesterday: I made my first phone call trying to adopt a baby or adult Desert Tortoise. I read all the care sheets availlable and pretty much know what I am doing. Unfortunately no one answered the phone at the agency. Message left.
: : Today: Phone call returned, adoption official wants to inspect my home and yard (No Problem) official informed that I own 24 other tortoise, her response "That might be a problem". I was then given the impression that if I had never owned a tortoise before, I would stand a better chance of getting one than I do now. Hmmm. So I guess they would rather place the animal with novices, then with someone who knows what they are doing. Official tells me that I must maintain my other 24 torts inside and "my" desert tortoise outside. That seems a little excessive, my yard is over 3000 square feet. So now I am guessing I will not be able to adopt a new tortoise, can anyone explain to me why the fish and wildlife rules are so ridiculous.

: : Justin

Follow Ups:

Re: Adopting Desert Tortoises is hard (Answer to why) Justin 08/01/01 (3)
- Re: Adopting Desert Tortoises is hard (Answer to why) Lori Green 08/01/01 (1)
  - Justin is in AZ. n/p EJ 08/01/01 (0)
- Are you trying to get them thru the NTS? NP Aladar 08/01/01 (0)

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: Justin, : I am sorry you are confused about your Fish and Wildlife regulations. I feel for both you and them. I wish this was not so easy to answer but it is. The problem is the same for all states. : Desert Tortoises die if taken out of their native area. Even taking them from one area in California and moving them to a similar but different area could kill them. Mortality is high. Many are also infected with mycoplasma. They can live with it but do transmit it to other tortoises who can't. It isn't something specific to desert tortoises. Reports of box turtle and gopher tortoise outbreakes are coming in this summer too. They are also highly protected animals and Fish and Wildlife may want someone who can concentrate on just them. While you may take really good care of a large collection not everyone does and they may be worried about cross contamination. Remember they don't know you and you get lumped in with the good, bad and ugly. : As someone who does turtle and tortoise adoption everyday I can tell you that I do sometimes look for the newbie over the experienced. There are certain instances where someone with no other turtles are preferred. : I had a diamondback here that would break out in blisters no matter how clean the water was. It turned out to be a ph problem but when I choose someone for it, I choose them because they did not have other aquatics. This turtle is a lone baby and is being doted over. I suspected a ph sensitivity but wasn't compleatly sure until the new person took it and the animal was better in their water than the water here. : Unfortunatly desert tortoises can't cross state lines so getting one from out of state is not legal. You would need the permit anyway. : Let Fish and Wildlife come. Maybe dealing with the inspector while actually on your property is easier than dealing with a secretary who fills out the paperwork. : Lori : : : : Justin, : : If someone has babies in another state where they are not native, can they legaly adopt to you? : : tcc : : : History: Growing up as a kid, my grandparents owned and bred desert torts. After I moved away from my home in AZ, my grandparents gave them away. Now I have returned to AZ, I have a love for tortoises and currenlty have 24 of them covering 9 different species. : : : Yesterday: I made my first phone call trying to adopt a baby or adult Desert Tortoise. I read all the care sheets availlable and pretty much know what I am doing. Unfortunately no one answered the phone at the agency. Message left. : : : Today: Phone call returned, adoption official wants to inspect my home and yard (No Problem) official informed that I own 24 other tortoise, her response "That might be a problem". I was then given the impression that if I had never owned a tortoise before, I would stand a better chance of getting one than I do now. Hmmm. So I guess they would rather place the animal with novices, then with someone who knows what they are doing. Official tells me that I must maintain my other 24 torts inside and "my" desert tortoise outside. That seems a little excessive, my yard is over 3000 square feet. So now I am guessing I will not be able to adopt a new tortoise, can anyone explain to me why the fish and wildlife rules are so ridiculous. : : : Justin

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