Desert Tortoises in Mojave National Preserve Protected by New Fences

The Mojave National Preserve is taking steps to protect its vulnerable desert tortoise population, which has faced growing threats from vehicles, habitat loss, and raven predation.

Conservation efforts have recently intensified, with the installation of specialized “tortoise fencing” along Cima Road, an area where tortoises are often seen. This fencing, about two feet high, aims to prevent tortoises from crossing onto roadways where many have been killed or injured.

Desert tortoises, a keystone species in the Mojave Desert, spend about 95% of their lives in burrows to escape extreme heat. However, they emerge during spring and summer rains to eat wildflowers, drink water, and search for mates, making them vulnerable to road accidents.

The new fencing is part of an extensive effort to curb this threat and ensure the tortoises can thrive in their natural habitat.

“Roadkill should be a thing of the past. We want desert tortoises to thrive in Mojave National Preserve,” said Preserve Superintendent Ray McPadden. “Our team is making a huge investment in tortoise survival through these projects, and we’ll continue to be leaders in on-the-ground conservation of this keystone species.”

In addition to vehicle-related threats, the Preserve is tackling raven predation, a significant risk to juvenile tortoises. With their soft shells, young tortoises are easy targets for ravens, which are increasingly drawn to the area by human-related food sources and utility poles that provide nesting sites.

Removing these poles, which date back to the 1940s, is intended to reduce raven numbers and return the landscape to its natural state. The Preserve’s wildlife biologist, Neal Darby, emphasized that “tortoise exclusion fencing and removal of raven subsidies could be the primary management actions that will provide the best protection.”

These conservation efforts coincide with the Preserve’s 30th anniversary, marking three decades of protected desert landscapes and a renewed commitment to conservation. As the Preserve advances its tortoise-protection initiatives, it hopes these measures will help reverse the desert tortoise’s decades-long population decline.