Adopting a Sonoran Desert tortoise.
Since 1981, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has facilitated a program to allow Arizona residents to adopt the tortoises, which are a protected species and native to Arizona. These ancient-looking creatures can live 50-80 years in captivity — longer than they would in the wild, due to predators and habitat loss.
Every year, the Game and Fish Department adopts out hundreds of captive desert tortoises that are surrendered to the department. These animals cannot be released back into the wild because they can transmit diseases that could destroy the wild population. So, for decades, these tortoises have been beloved pets in many Arizona households.
While they might not be the traditional household pet, state Game and Fish Department spokesperson Amy Gleich called these animals “interactive, friendly and personable.”
“It’s really funny. They really do have unique personalities,” she told Phoenix New Times. “They’re pretty cool pets. You can only have them here in Arizona, so that’s pretty unique and interesting.”
Interested in caring for a desert tortoise of your own? Here’s how the process works.
How can I adopt a Sonoran Desert tortoise?
You can apply to adopt a tortoise through the Game and Fish Department. First, in what Gleich called “the main hurdle to overcome,” you must create a burrow for your shell-backed friend to call home. These enclosures must prevent them from escaping — they’re slow, but they’ll still make a steady run for it — and protect them from harm and extreme summer heat.Depending on the size and age of the tortoise, the enclosures must be between 16 and 324 square feet and the barrier around the outside of the enclosure must be 24 inches tall. These burrows should be “well insulated” by adding at least eight inches of soil around the enclosure. “Desert tortoises prefer a snug burrow to wedge themselves into a corner near the back,” the department guidelines read.
Temperatures in the burrow should be kept between 68 and 85 degrees during the summer and 50-68 degrees in the winter. Burrow temperatures should never top 90 degrees to prevent overheating.
You must also ensure your backyards are safe from potential hazards — no fire pits or toxic plants. You also need a plan for if your tortoise needs veterinary care or if you can no longer care for the tortoise.
That may seem like a lot of work, but Gleich said once the burrow is built, “they’re pretty low maintenance after that.”
Hi, hello! Just your friendly neighborhood desert tortoise comin' in to tell you I have LOTS of friends at the Wildlife Center who need forever homes. PLEASE consider adopting! Learn more at https://t.co/ewzjMP1ZNp 💚 🐢 💚 pic.twitter.com/RWbiRaFKe5
— Arizona Game & Fish (@azgfd) July 12, 2024
How does the application process work?
Once you have a burrow, you can start an adoption application. There is no fee to adopt, but a $25 donation is “appreciated,” according to the department’s application form.“They are constantly looking to go through applications and approve them,” Gleich said. “We always have more tortoises. We always have plenty of them.”
Your application must include photos of the tortoise enclosure, completed burrow, shade access, placement of water, access to food, security measures and a diagram of the enclosure with dimensions. Standard application questions are also included.
Have kids? Dogs? Tortoises do well with the first and can coexist happily with the latter, depending on how the dog reacts to their new reptile family member.
Applications can be submitted online. Paper applications can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to the Tortoise Adoption Program, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086.
After the department receives the application, it may take up to 14 days to be reviewed. Interested adopters will be contacted via email.
Where can I get my tortoise?
Tortoises can either be picked up at the AZGFD Tortoise Adoption Program in Phoenix or at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson. You can mark their preferred location on your application.Caretakers can only have one tortoise at a time to prevent backyard breeding of these animals. The state has “a pretty big issue with illegal breeding,” Gleich said, and people will surrender 10 to 20 tortoises at a time to the Game and Fish Department. “A lot of times, it’s not even on purpose,” Gleich said.
It is possible to adopt a second tortoise, but it must be kept in a separate enclosure.
When can I adopt a tortoise?
Tortoises can be adopted out when they wake up from brumation — or tortoise hibernation — in April and throughout the summer until they start to brumate again in late October to early November. According to Gleich, 29 tortoises have been adopted by Arizona residents so far this year. Last year, 150 tortoises were adopted out through the program.However, the department “accepts applications all year round,” Gleich said. “The only time you couldn’t come physically get one is when they’re asleep for winter. We wouldn’t wake them up or bother them then, but you can always prepare your application anytime. So the minute they wake up, we can start getting them to their new homes.”
What goes into caring for a tortoise?
Desert tortoises are also completely herbivorous and eat a wide variety of plants in the wild. In their burrows, tortoises should be provided with grass to graze on, according to the Game and Fish Department. They can also be given leafy plants, flowers, dandelions, hibiscus, wild grapes and mulberries — tortoises enjoy the leaves, stems and flowers of these plants. However, foods that are rich in sugar, protein or animal fats will damage the organ function of a tortoise and could even result in death.Be sure also to provide your tortoise with a few inches of water in a dish. Tortoises may not drink water frequently, but they do enjoy occasionally soaking in the water, so make sure the dish isn’t too deep to prevent drowning.
