July | August 2017 the Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 4 Turtle & Tortoise Club founded in 1964 and dedicated to Turtle & Tortoise Preservation, Conservation and Education

Combat Center Chief of Staff Col. James F. Harp gently sets No. 2-4, a desert tortoise hatched nine years ago at the installation’s Tortoise Research and Captive Rearing Site, next to a burrow that biologists dug for her in the desert near her old home Sept. 30, 2015. She is one of first 35 tortoises released into the wild this year. (Official USMC photo by Kelly O’Sullivan/Released) Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise, Gopherus agassizii (Agassiz, 1857) The Tortoise Research and Captive Rearing Site Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA All photography and captioning courtesy of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center ocated in Twentynine Palms, CA, other adverse factors that cause mor- facility until they have nested, following the Tortoise Research and Captive tality. Once juveniles reach a larger size which biologists return the females to Rearing Site (TRACRS) is part of the and have passed their most vulnerable their home locations. LMarine Corps Air Ground Combat Center’s stage, they are then released into the The eggs undergo incubation, and, ac- Natural Resources and Environmental wild where survival is expected to be sig- cording to head-starting guidelines, the Affairs Division. At the TRACRS facility nificantly greater“ (Juvenile Survival and hatchlings remain at TRACRS until they biologists and ecologists are conducting Head-starting of Desert Tortoises in Mo- are at least four inches in length and nine research on Agassiz’s, or the Mojave des- jave National Preserve, n.d.). years old, the size and age at which biolo- ert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii. Head-starting is an important miti- gists surmise that sufficient calcification As characterized in a research pro- gation tool in desert tortoise recovery of the juveniles’ shells reduces their vul- posal submitted to the University of range-wide, and TRACRS is head-starting nerability to predation. Biologists fit the California, Davis, head-starting is “a G. agassizii to restore depleted desert tor- juvenile tortoises with radio transmitters technique wherein juveniles are raised toise populations in the . prior to releasing them into the wild, us- in semi-natural, controlled environ- Captured from the wild, gravid female ing radio-tracking equipment to monitor ments and protected from predators and desert tortoises remain at the TRACRS the movements of the released tortoises. 2 t Combat Center Chief able of Contents of Staff Col. James F. Harp; T Beth Bogue, field representa- Featured Species tive for Assemblyman Chad Mayes, and Michelle Blair of Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise the Natural Resources and Gopherus agassizii Environmental Affairs Divi- sion watch as CM-4, a wild 1 The Tortoise Research and Captive Rear- male desert tortoise, enters ing Site, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat TRACRS’ outer gate Sept. 30, Center, Twentynine Palms, California 2015. The tortoise walked up to the colonel and several 4 Smithsonian Study Shows Relocated Desert others before he was placed Tortoises Reproduce at Lower Rate – Smithson- back outside by a biologist. ian Insider (Official USMC photo by Kelly 6 New York Proposes to End Commercial O’Sullivan/Released) Terrapin Harvest – Center for Biological Diversity press release 8 Bans Sought on Commercial Wild Turtle Trapping in Oklahoma and Texas– Center for Biological Diversity press releases s Chicago Herpetological Society: Herpetol- ogy 2017 – CHS Staff Abstracts 12 The Peggy Nichols Memorial Mini-Show – Turtle & Tortoise Care Society

14 Georgia Sea Turtle Center Celebrating u A wild male tortoise Decade of Progress in Conservation, Re- visits the Natural Resources search and Animal Welfare – Georgia Sea Turtle and Environmental Affairs- Center press release hosted ceremony for the first release of tortoises from 15 2017 CTTC Directory the Combat Center’s Desert Tortoise Headstart Program, September 30, 2015. NREA released 35 tortoises from the program after they spent in every issue : approximately 9 years at the Table of Contents Tortoise Research and Captive 2 Rearing Site. (Official USMC 6 Classified Advertisements photo by Lauren Kurkimilis/ Released) 7 Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, PhD s Meetings and Programs 10 The Turtle’s Garden: Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata) by M. A. Cohen

California Turtle & Tortoise Club: a Society Dedicated to Turtle & Tortoise Preservation, Conservation and Edu- cation Since 1964. Promoting and Facilitating the Care, Rescue and Adoption of Native and Nonnative Turtles and Tortoises. The Tortuga Gazette (ISSN 1073-1334) is owned by the Cal- ifornia Turtle & Tortoise Club Executive Board, which is t Dr. Brian Henen, an ecologist incorporated in the State of California as a Not-for-Profit with the Combat Center’s Natural Corporation and is tax-exempt under IRS code 501(c)(3). Resources and Environmental All material is copyright © CTTC unless otherwise attrib- Affairs Division, counts the growth uted. CTTC policy permits reproduction of articles by rings on CM-4, a wild male desert other not-for-profit groups and educational institutions tortoise, that entered an open when permission is requested. Permission is granted on a outer gate at the installation’s case-by-case basis and CTTC must be cited as the source Tortoise Research and Captive Rearing Site on Sept. 30, 2015. of the material. Henen counted 25 rings, but Views expressed in the Tortuga Gazette are those of the estimated the tortoise is 40-years- contributors and not necessarily those of the Editor or the old. The desert denizens live an California Turtle & Tortoise Club. estimated 80 to 100 years in the wild. (Official USMC photo by Kelly Is your email address changing? O’Sullivan/Released) Please update your email address through your MailChimp account, or send changes/corrections to tgdistribution@ tortoise.org

Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 4 3

p Dr. Ken Nagy, University of California, Los Angeles research professor, holds No. 2-4, the p Tortoise 2-4 takes her first steps in the wild after being released at the Natural Resources and tortoise of the hour Sept. 30, 2015. The 9-year-old female is one of the first 35 desert tortoises Environmental Affairs-hosted ceremony for the first release of tortoises from the Combat Center’s raised at the Combat Center’s Tortoise Research and Captive Rearing Site to be released into the Desert Tortoise Headstart Program, September 30, 2015. NREA released 35 tortoises from the pro- wild this year. (Official USMC photo by Kelly O’Sullivan/Released) gram after they spent approximately 9 years at the Tortoise Research and Captive Rearing Site. The tortoises were required to grow to a length of at least 4 inches before being released in order to assure they could better fend off predation and are equipped with a radio transmitter so that they can continue to be monitored. (Official USMC photo by Lauren Kurkimilis/Released)

p Thelma, one of the Combat Center's two ambassadors, makes an appearance at the Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs-hosted ceremony for the first release of tortoises from the Combat Center’s Desert Tortoise Headstart Program, September 30, 2015. (Official USMC photo by Lauren Kurkimilis/Released) p Louise, one of the Combat Center's two ambassadors, makes an appearance at the Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs-hosted ceremony for the first release of tortoises from the Combat Center’s Desert Tortoise Headstart Program. (Official USMC photo by Lauren Kurkimilis/ Released)

p Mary Lane Poe, biologist, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, feeds the juve- p Mary Lane Poe, biologist, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, tracks released nile tortoises too young to be released at the enclosures at the Headstart facility at the Tortoise desert tortoises using directional antennas and receivers at Sand Hill training area aboard Marine Research and Captive Rearing Site aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 5, 2017. The release of 50 juvenile Palms, Calif., April 5, 2017. TRACRS released 50 juvenile tortoises in March [ed.note: March 15 to 17, tortoises from the Tortoise Research and Captive Rearing Site occurred in March. The program 2017]. The program was designed to find effective ways to increase the population of the tortoises was designed to find effective ways to increase the population of the tortoises on and around the on and around the installation as well as to solve potential problems wild tortoises face today. installation as well as solve potential problems that wild tortoises face today. (U.S. Marine Corps (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dave Flores) photo by Lance Cpl. Dave Flores)

July | August 2017 Tortuga Gazette 4 Smithsonian Study Shows Relocated Desert Tortoises Reproduce at Lower Rate Four years after conservationists re- study is the first to use genetic methods mating, although there is considerable located 570 desert tortoises (Gopherus to look at whether males of a translocated overlap of home ranges. agassizii) in California from a threatened population are successfully reproducing In addition to confirming why trans- habitat to a new nearby location, the and integrating their genes into a resi- located males are not breeding, the tortoises outwardly appeared to have dent group. researchers hope to repeat this study in acclimated successfully to the change. “It’s much easier through observa- the future to determine if there has been Genetic paternity testing of 92 hatchlings tion to tell which females are successfully any breeding improvement. In the mean- by Smithsonian Conservation Biology reproducing, but only by genetic assign- time, conservationists can use the results Institute (SCBI) geneticists, however, has ment are we able to get a real handle on to consider the best options for managing revealed that the translocated males are the reproductive success of the males,” translocated desert tortoises, including failing in one key way—they the possibility of relocating only are reproducing at a much, females or breeding sets of tor- much lower rate than resident toises before moving them. males. The findings suggest The desert tortoise is a fed- that for some species, translo- erally threatened species and cation may not be as effective listed as vulnerable by the Inter- a tool to rescue populations at national Union for Conservation risk, or bolster genetic diver- of Nature’s Red List of Threatened sity and health, as previously Species. They range throughout thought. the Mojave and Sonoran des- “The fact that none of the erts of the Southwestern United hatchlings we tested were States, north and west of the Col- sired by a translocated male orado River. Their numbers have tortoise is both unexpected declined substantially since the and alarming,” said Kevin 1950s as the result of continued Mulder, a graduate student habitat loss and predation. in SCBI’s Center for Conser- The paper’s other authors are vation Genomics and lead Andrew Walde, Walde Research author of the study, which was and Environmental Consulting; published in Biological Con- Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) photographed in 2011 by Roy Averill-Murray, USFWS. Pub- William Boarman, Conservation servation May 23. “Based on lic domain. Science and Consultation; A. Pe- measures such as survival and ter Woodman, Kiva Biological health, the translocated males seem to said Robert Fleischer, head of SCBI’s Consulting; and Emily Latch, University of be doing fine, but when looking at their Center for Conservation Genomics and Wisconsin-Milwaukee. ability to reproduce they strongly under- senior author on the study. “These find- SCBI plays a leading role in the Smith- perform compared to the local males. ings have important implications for the sonian’s global efforts to save species Although we can only speculate on why use of translocation as a mitigation tool from extinction and train future genera- this is happening, it is clear that the trans- for the desert tortoise and perhaps for tions of conservationists. SCBI spearheads location itself is having a larger impact on other endangered species. It highlights research programs at its headquarters the males than meets the human eye.” the important role of genetic tools in con- in Front Royal, Va., the Smithsonian’s Na- Translocation is a common conser- servation, which we suggest should be tional Zoo in Washington, D.C., and at vation strategy used to increase gene considered any time conservationists are field research stations and training sites flow between populations and to move doing a translocation.” worldwide. SCBI scientists tackle some of animals out of harm’s way in the case of Unlike the males, the female translo- today’s most complex conservation chal- habitat loss. In 2008, SCBI field collabora- cated tortoises reproduced successfully lenges by applying and sharing what they tors worked with the U.S. Army National at the same rate as the resident females. learn about animal behavior and repro- Training Center at Fort Irwin in the Mojave According to the paper’s authors, there duction, ecology, genetics, migration and Desert to move 184 female tortoises, 293 may be a few reasons that the translocat- conservation sustainability. Ω males and 93 juveniles out of the way of ed male tortoises are failing to reproduce. They might have had to expend too Reprinted from the website Smithsonian Insider according the expanding base and into nearby des- to its Fair Use Policy for educational use: http://insider. ert habitat that already had tortoises. They much energy on adjusting to the new si.edu/2017/05/smithsonian-study-shows-relocated-des- put radio transmitters on both the trans- environment, resulting in reduced vigor ert-tortoises-reproduce-lower-rate/ located tortoises and a smaller group of that makes them less appealing to female the resident tortoises to track the effects residents. Or resident males may be com- of combining the two populations. This petitively excluding the new males from

Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 4 5 6 New York State Proposes End to Commercial Terrapin Harvest Coastal Turtles Threatened by Habitat Loss, Entanglement in Fishing Gear, Harvest Pressure Albany, New York—28 April 2017—In become overpopulated and de- response to advocacy from the Center vour the marsh grasses that for Biological Diversity, turtle experts and protect shorelines and sustain other conservation organizations, the wildlife. But the terrapins are New York State Department of Environ- struggling against threats from mental Conservation today proposed habitat loss, entanglement in a rule to end commercial harvest of fishing gear, vehicle strikes, pol- diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys ter- lution and overcollection. rapin). If the rule is finalized, New York In December 2016 more than will join nearly every other state in the 60 scientists signed a letter in terrapin’s range in putting an end to the support of a proposed rule to unsustainable practice. end the commercial harvest of “I’m so pleased to see New York take the terrapins, explaining that this critical step toward protecting dia- the practice harms terrapins’ mondback terrapins,” said Elise Bennett, precarious populations. New a Center attorney dedicated to protecting York currently allows trappers rare reptiles and amphibians. “The deck is with diamondback terrapin stacked against terrapins, but taking trap- licenses to take unlimited num- Diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. Public domain. ping off the table may give these turtles a bers of terrapins during a fighting chance.” nine-month open season from important to safeguard these turtles for Diamondback terrapins, which are August through April. The proposed rule future generations.” found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, would close the open season on terrapins The New York State Department of En- are the only North American turtles that and add them to a list of native turtles vironmental Conservation is accepting live exclusively along coasts, where fresh that may not be harvested. public comments on today’s proposal water meets the sea. Terrapins play a key “Diamondback terrapins are excep- until June 9. The final rule would become role in coastal ecosystems because they tional treasures, more precious than their effective May 5, 2018. Ω eat salt marsh periwinkle snails, which can namesake gems,” said Bennett. “So it’s — Center for Biological Diversity press release The perils of publishing location data for endangered species May 25, 2017 — While the increasing ac- must be weighed against the increasing CTTC Life Members cessibility of data from scientific studies harm that can result from information be- retained by the creates many benefits — and represents ing openly available. The authors discuss Executive Board a process that should be broadly em- how such tradeoffs are being evaluated braced — in the context of conserving in other fields of science, where dual use w David Carroll endangered species it can actually be is also a concern. w Phil & Joan Shiraki problematic, write David Lindenmayer Fields such as paleontology and and Ben Scheele in a recent Essay. archeology have long maintained restric- The authors highlight how increasing- tions on the publication of site locations, ly, as in other fields experiencing so-called for example, and promoted government "dual use" dilemmas, researchers who regulations to limit collection and trade in publish on rare species with the goal of fossils and artifacts. aiding conservation inadvertently end up Lindenmayer and Scheele briefly Updating your Contact information fueling illegal actions — like poaching — outline novel publication strategies that Every CTTC member on this mailing list has a that threaten biodiversity. will allow for better protection of endan- MailChimp account that s/he can update as To avoid unknowingly contributing to gered species — including, for example, needed. When you receive your newsletter no- further species declines, the authors say, buffering spatial data to provide only very tification, there is a link at the bottom of the biologists must quickly "unlearn" parts of broad location coordinates. Ω page titled “update your preferences.” Simply their more than 400-year-old publishing Materials provided by American Association for click on this link to jump to your account and culture — for example, by reevaluating the Advancement of Science. Note: Content may update your email address and other informa- the benefits of publishing rare and en- be edited for style and length. tion. Thank you! dangered species' location data. Lindenmayer et al. acknowledge that Journal Reference restricting information in this way is not David Lindenmayer, Ben Scheele. Do not publish. Sci- without its costs; but, they say, these costs ence, 2017; 356 (6340): 800 DOI: 10.1126/science.aan1362

Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 4 7

Mike’s Turtle Net Picks by Michael J. Connor, Ph.D. CTTCMeetings and Programs A varied selection of recent articles, stories and sites on the Web that some of you may find as Cen-Val: NO meetings in July or August (school interesting as I did. This list is also posted at tortoise.org/turtlenetpicks. is closed) Desert Tortoise Genome Temperature Dependent Sex Determination A draft desert tortoise genome is now available! Protein Chino Valley: 21 July; 18 August The journal article is open access. Scientists have identified a role for cold-inducible Foothill: 28 July; 25 August RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) in explaining why Personality and Gender Predict Desert Tortoise female snapping turtles are born at higher incuba- High Desert: 10 July; 14 August Translocation Outcome tion temperatures. Inland Empire: 7 July; 4 August Following their release, “exploratory” tortoises were more likely to find and use burrows which were The Genetics paper is open access. Kern County: 10 July; 14 August beneficial to their survival. Sadly, the mortality of Climate Change and Sea Turtle Sex Ratios Low Desert: 7 August translocated females was twice that of males. Is climate change producing too many female sea Orange County: 14 July; 11 August Translocated Male Desert Tortoises Repro- turtles? duce at Lower Rate Trump Administration Withdraws New Protec- Ridgecrest: 10 July; 14 August Male tortoises might survive better than females tions for California’s Leatherback Sea Turtles Santa Barbara-Ventura: Contact the chapter but even relatively short distance “relocations” On June 12, the administration withdrew the final for meeting information. significantly reduced their contribution to the gene rule to protect Leatherback sea turtles in Califor- Santa Clarita: 15 July – Tortoise microchipping pool. nia’s coastal waters by limiting numbers killed by clinic with Dr. Marlene Anschultz LiDAR and Aerial Imagery Used to Find Desert the drift gillnet fishery industry. Tortoise Burrows The withdrawal notice is available in the Silicon Valley: 21 July; 18 August Using hi-tech to assess potential burrow locations for Federal Register. desert tortoise. TOOSLO (San Luis Obispo): 12 July; Kemp’s Ridleys Impacted by Pier Fishing 9 August CTTC Seeks Homes for Desert Tortoises Highly endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are Good coverage of CTTC’s desert tortoise adoption being hooked on fishing lines at fishing piers in the TTCS (Long Beach): 21 July – Annual Luau; program. southeast USA. 18 August Fossil Giant Tortoise from the Dominican Recent Turtle Newsletters Valley: 21 July; 18 August Republic Executive Board: 8 July. Meetings are held at the Hispaniola yields fossils of a new species of giant • Marine Turtle Newsletter # 153 Los Angeles County Arboretum, Arcadia, CA. tortoise (Chelonoidis marcanoi) that lived some • African Sea Turtle Newsletter # 7 100,000 years ago. Check your Chapter web site for the latest program CTTC on Facebook information. Programs may be scheduled after the Ontario Bans Snapping Turtle Hunt For breaking news updates, visit and “like” us on newsletter is published. Great news for Canadian snapping turtles. Ontario Facebook! has now joined Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in prohibiting hunting of this species at risk.

“... the current position of the Classified Advertisements California Department of Fish and Classified advertisements run for one issue at $500 for four lines or less or $3000 for ¼ page. They are Wildlife is that it is illegal to breed accepted at the discretion of the Editor. Classified ads are available to members and subscribers only. captive [desert] tortoises.” Advertisements are run as a service to our members. California Turtle & Tortoise Club is not responsible [The Desert Tortoise Council’s Answering Questions for merchandise placed for sale in the Tortuga Gazette. e-publication is currently offline in revision.] Please make your check payable to the California Turtle & Tortoise Club. “CTTC will not place desert tortoises Please send ad fee to: CTTC Tortuga Gazette, attn Treasurer, P. O. Box 7300, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7300. (Gopherus agassizii) in situations Mail fee with ad copy to the Tortuga Gazette mailing address; OR mail fee to the postal address where captive breeding may occur. above, and email the ad copy to the Gazette Editor. CTTC works with California Depart- ment of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to FOR SALE: Redfoots, Russians, Marginateds, Hermann’s, Graecas, Elongateds, Forsteniis, Leopards, place desert tortoises. Both CDFW Reeves and Boxes — all breeding adults. Reeves, Box and Russian hatchlings. Call 805-481-5222. (4) and CTTC discourage the captive breeding of desert tortoises.” – tortoise.org/cttc/adoption.html

July | August 2017 Tortuga Gazette 8 Bans Sought on Commercial Wild Turtle Trapping in Oklahoma and Texas Oklahoma City, Oklahoma—11 May “Commercial trapping is devastating and possession limits for commercial tur- 2017—The Center for Biological Di- to turtle populations that are already tle trappers went into effect. versity and several Oklahoma-based suffering from multiple other threats, in- As for states neighboring Oklahoma, environmental organizations petitioned cluding habitat loss, water pollution and Colorado and Kansas prohibit commer- the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife vehicular collisions,” said Michael Beilfuss, cial turtle collection, and New Mexico Conservation today to end commercial executive committee chair for Oklahoma strictly regulates it with annual bag limits. collection of the state’s wild turtles, which Chapter Sierra Club. “Unless the state In addition, last fall Missouri announced are critical to the health of freshwater bans commercial turtle trapping, Okla- — in response to a Center petition — that ecosystems. Turtle trappers can now le- homa’s turtle populations will continue it will consider ending unlimited com- gally collect unlimited numbers of eight to plummet.” mercial turtle collection through a formal turtle species from rulemaking proceeding. waterways on private § § § lands to sell domesti- cally or export for Asian Austin, Texas—31 May 2017—The Cen- food and medicinal ter for Biological Diversity and several markets. Texas-based conservation organizations “Turtle trappers petitioned the Texas Parks and Wildlife shouldn’t be allowed Department today to end commercial to pad their pocket- trapping of the state’s wild turtles. books by putting the Under current Texas law, turtle trap- state’s precious wildlife pers can collect unlimited numbers of at risk,” said Collette four turtle species on private lands to sell Adkins, the Center domestically or export for international biologist and senior at- food and medicinal markets. This is put- torney who authored ting turtle populations — already facing Texas spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera emoryi). Photo by Gary M. Stoltz, USFWS. Public pollution and habitat loss — at risk across the petition. “For the domain. sake of our native tur- the state. “For-profit turtle trappers shouldn’t be tles and all of us who In response to a 2008 Center peti- allowed to drive the state’s turtles to the care about them, Oklahoma has to rein in tion, Oklahoma prohibited commercial brink of extinction,” said Jenny Loda, an exploitative turtle trapping.” collection of turtles from the state’s attorney and biologist at the Center who Commercial traders bought nearly public waters. That prohibition, while an works to protect vulnerable reptiles and 1 million wild turtles from Oklahoma important step, insufficiently protects the amphibians. “Scientists have concluded between 1994 and 2014, according to state’s turtles because approximately 95 that even modest commercial trapping of reports submitted by turtle buyers to percent of the state’s land is privately held freshwater turtles can lead to population the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and therefore open to turtle trapping. crashes. For the sake of our native turtles, Conservation. Asian food and medicinal And enforcement is difficult because tur- Texas needs to stop this exploitative trap- markets drive most of the trade. tle traders can claim that turtles illegally ping.” Because turtles accumulate toxins from collected from closed public waters were More than 2,000 freshwater turtles prey in their bodies and burrow into con- collected from waters on private land. were trapped in Texas over the past two taminated sediment, their meat is often Today’s petition was submitted by the years, according to reports submitted by laced with mercury, PCBs and pesticides, Center for Biological Diversity, Oklaho- holders of nongame dealer permits to the posing a health risk. Adult turtles are also ma Chapter Sierra Club, Save the Illinois Parks and Wildlife Department. Interna- taken from the wild to breed hatchlings River and Local Environmental Action De- tional food and medicinal markets drive for the international pet trade. manded. Scientists have repeatedly documented most of the trade. that freshwater turtles cannot sustain any Background Texas modified its regulations in 2007 significant level of wild collection without The Center has been petitioning states to protect freshwater turtles from harvest population declines. For example, a 2011 that allow commercial turtle collection to on its public lands and waters; however, Oklahoma study showed a significant re- improve their regulations. In 2009 Florida this only resulted in protections for tur- duction, in comparison to baseline data responded by banning almost all com- tles in 2.2 percent of the water bodies from 1997-1999, in “catch per unit of ef- mercial turtle collection from public and in Texas. Under current law unlimited fort,” an index of turtle abundance, across private waters. In 2012 Georgia approved harvest of four native, freshwater turtle eastern Oklahoma for the three turtle state rules restricting commercial turtle species is allowed on private property in species primarily targeted by commercial collection, and Alabama completely the state: common snapping turtles, red- trappers: common snapping turtles, soft- banned it. Most recently, in Iowa in March, eared sliders, smooth softshells and spiny shells and red-eared sliders. new regulations setting closed seasons softshells. Recent studies concluded that

Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 4 9 current turtle harvest regulations in Texas are not likely to be sustainable. Chicago Herpetological Society: Herpetology 2017 Today’s petition was submitted by Abstracts of recently published herpetological papers prepared by the editorial staff of the CHS the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra International Trade in Wild- Four species of either nesting and/or Club’s Lone Star Chapter, Texas Rivers foraging sea turtles have been recorded Protection Association and Texas Snake caught Turtles L. Luiselli et al. [2016, Chelonian Conserva- in the area around St. Kitts, including Initiative. tion and Biology 15(2):167-172] analyzed leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), green Background the CITES (Convention on International (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys As part of a campaign to protect turtles Trade in Endangered Species of Wild imbricata), and loggerhead (Caretta caret- in the United States, the Center has been Fauna and Flora) data set for the years ta). An open fishing season for sea turtles petitioning states that allow commercial 1990-2010 to depict the main patterns is active in St. Kitts and Nevis from 1 Octo- turtle collection to improve their regula- of trade for tortoises and freshwater tur- ber through 28 February annually. In 2006, tions. tles of wild origin. About 2 million wild sea turtle fishers in St. Kitts were assessed In 2009 Florida responded by banning individuals were traded over 20 years by the SKSTMN through a survey pro- almost all commercial turtle collection of monitoring, with 48 species (of 335 cess to determine the status of sea turtle from public and private waters. In 2012 turtle species total) belonging to 10 dis- stocks in the St. Kitts area and to deter- Georgia approved state rules restrict- tinct families being regularly traded mine the feasibility of developing a local ing commercial turtle collection, and and over 100 being at least occasionally community-based ecotourism project fo- Alabama completely banned it. And last traded. Most of the traded specimens cused on sea turtles. Based on the results year the Missouri Department of Con- belonged to the families Testudinidae, of this survey, the SKSTMN made the de- servation announced — in response to Geoemydidae, Emydidae, and Trionychi- cision to develop alternative livelihoods a Center petition — that it will consider dae (about 93% of the trade). The trade for the fishers to serve as a replacement ending unlimited commercial collection of wild individuals reached its peak in for the harvest. These included a Sea of the state’s wild freshwater turtles. Most the early 2000s, with this pattern being Turtle Technician Program and a St. Kitts recently, in March, new regulations went stronger in the Asian region, with a re- Leatherback Ecotour Package. Prior to the into effect in Iowa setting closed seasons markable growth in the export numbers development and implementation of the and possession limits for commercial tur- from the Nearctic region (most of North St. Kitts Leatherback Ecotour Package, a tle trappers. America). It is unknown whether the re- representative survey was prepared and Texas is in a regional hotspot for com- duction of exported Asian region turtle distributed to 3 target groups: local citi- mercial turtle collectors, and reform is numbers depended on 1) CITES regula- zens, tourists, and residents. A complete needed. If the state created closed sea- tion and supervision or 2) a collapse of tour package was developed according sons and bag limits within its borders, the wild populations. There were uneven to the survey results, and the package adjacent states would likely follow its frequencies of wild turtles traded by bio- was offered during leatherback nesting example; the region would be better geographic region, with a higher amount seasons from 2009 to 2014. In 2014, an equipped to protect its turtle populations of traded wild turtles coming from Asian outcome assessment of the ecotourism by making clear to turtle traders that and Palearctic regions. There were 107 initiative was conducted that consisted trade is strictly regulated and enforced. exporting countries, with Malaysia, the of electronic survey delivery to a subset The Center also recently petitioned for United States, and Indonesia being the of former ecotour participants. These ini- a ban on unlimited commercial trapping most important countries in the trade tiatives have resulted in a decrease in the in Louisiana and Oklahoma, two states (each one responsible for over 20% of number of sea turtles harvested in St. Kitts that share a border with Texas. Ω trade). Overall, there were 66 importing annually and have also produced a num- ber of sustainable technician positions for — Center for Biological Diversity press releases countries, with the most important be- ing the United States (17%), China (15%), Kittitian citizens on the project. Ω and Hong Kong (12%). The conservation Originally published in the Bulletin of the Chicago Herpe- tological Society 52(3):57, 2017. Reprinted with permission implication of the observed patterns are from the Editor of the Bulletin. discussed [in the full article]. § § § Leatherback Ecotourism K. M. Stewart et al. [2016, Chelonian Conservation and Biology 15(2):197-205] report on the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Moni- toring Network (SKSTMN), a community-based sea turtle conservation organization op- Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea. Photographed by Claudia Lombard, US- erating in St. Kitts, West Indies. FWS at the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands. Public domain.

July | August 2017 Tortuga Gazette 10 the Turtle’s Creosote Bush Garden Larrea tridentata planting for chelonians by M. A. Cohen member of the Zygophyllaceae discourage competition (caltrop) family, the creosote from other within Abush, Larrea tridentata, belongs to its surroundings. Even a flowering- family of more than 250 with speculation that members worldwide, many of which are the roots of the creosote native to desert regions. Creosote bush bush secrete allelopath- is abundant in three of the four North ic 1 chemicals to inhibit American deserts, i.e., the Mojave, the growth of other plants un- Sonoran, and the Chihuahuan Deserts. In derneath, the extensive the United States, L. tridentata occurs in root system of L. tridentata the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, probably accounts for the Close-up of creosote bush, Larrea tridentata, photographed in Kyle Canyon in the Spring New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. lack of competition. Mea- Mountains west of Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo © 2005 by Stan Shebs. Source: Creative Com- mons; license CC BY-SA 3.0. Most Agassiz’s desert tortoises, Go- suring up to four meters pherus agassizii, despite the specific (12 feet) in length, the research on desert tortoise burrows, a locality they inhabit, live in a category of shallow root systems of these shrubs ef- team of scientists documented 31 species desert biome known as creosote bush fectively capture all moisture near the as commensals (Walde, Walde, Delaney, & scrub. Dominated by the creosote bush, parent plant (Deacon & von Broembsen, Pater, 2009). However, it is likely that many this ecosystem also features vegetation n.d.). more species share the shelter of the tor- such as Ambrosia dumosa (white bur- Moreover, known as la gobernadora in toise’s burrow. sage), Ambrosia salsola (cheese-bush), Mexico (translating as “the governess” in With the “camphor-like” fragrance of Cylindropuntia echinocarpa (silver cholla English), creosote bush earns this moni- the resinous coating on its leaves that ker by appropriating all volatilizes when rainfall occurs, the creo- available moisture for sote bush imparts a fresh, pleasant “smell its own needs, even at of rain” to the parched desert ecosystems the expense of its own it inhabits (Flores, 2013). On the contrary, seeds. the pesticide/wood preservative creo- Because of the soil- sote oil is a petroleum-based product that stabilizing effect of has nothing to do with the desert shrub the root system of L. creosote bush. Creosote oil is a toxic sub- tridentata, many des- stance distilled from coal tar and used to ert tortoises, known as preserve railroad crossties, marine and the keystone species foundation timbers, and the like. of the Mojave Desert, excavate their burrows Identification A slow-growing evergreen shrub with a under these shrubs. As wide distribution in the North American with the gopher tor- deserts, L. tridentata is primarily a shelter toise’s burrow in the source, providing beneficial shade and Wild Agassizi’s desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, photographed in habitat by London Rachel, southeastern United USFWS. The tall, green-leaved shrubs with yellow flowers are creosote bushes,Larrea tridentata. cover for numerous desert organisms, States, the desert tor- Public domain. both flora and fauna. toise’s burrow in the cactus), farinosa, Encelia actoni, An extremely long-lived shrub, each southwestern deserts provides a refuge and Encelia virginensis (brittlebush, ence- individual plant may exist as long as 100 from harsh weather conditions of heat lia), Lycium andersonii (box thorn), Opuntia to 200 years. The wild creosote bush typi- and aridity, not only for itself, but also basilaris (beavertail cactus), Sphaeralcea cally reaches a height of 3 to 8 feet (1 to for a variety of commensals 2, including ambigua (globemallow), and Yucca schidi- 2.4 meters) with an equal spread. various species of birds, invertebrates, gera (Mojave yucca). The most drought-tolerant shrub in The associated plants named in the mammals, and reptiles. While conducting previous paragraph notwithstanding, the 1 Allelopathy: in botany, allelopathic chemicals are se- 2 Commensalism: a relationship between two organ- creosote bush is famous for its ability to creted by a plant to inhibit the growth of other plants isms in which one derives benefit from the relationship attempting to germinate and grow nearby. and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.

Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 4 11 North America, the creosote bush is ca- For the same rea- pable of living without any water for at sons, creosote bushes least two years. During periods of severe only photosynthesize drought, creosote bush leaves may turn in the morning. The brown and dry out, but they are still ca- shrub faces south- pable of producing enough sugars to east to intercept the sustain the life of the shrub. To reduce most sunlight during evaporation, L. tridentata may shed its the time when it syn- leaves and even some branches during thesizes the chemical the most extreme drought conditions energy that supports (Deacon & von Broembsen, n.d.). its life processes. As The shrub’s appearance varies, depend- the ambient tem- ing on the location in which it grows. In perature rises and the the shallow, dry soils typical of many humidity plummets, desert areas, creosote bush has an open the stomata close and aspect with branches that are sparsely photosynthesis ceases clothed in leaves. Conversely, in areas in until the following which moisture accumulates, as well as in morning, when the gardens with supplemental irrigation, the cycle begins anew Mature creosote bush photographed in Furnace Creek Wash, Death Valley, CA. Photo © 2007 by shrub displays more compact growth and (Ramirez, 2015). Stan Shebs. Source: Creative Commons; license: CC BY-SA 3.0. increased leaf density (Brenzel, ed., 2012). Small yellow flowers appear through- The King Clone has been a continuous resident there ever In the California’s Mojave Desert be- out the year, with the most profuse since,“ wrote Professor Vasek (Rodrigue, tween Lucerne Valley and Johnson Valley, bloom occurring in spring. Small green n.d.). the Creosote Rings Preserve is the lo- leaves with a thick, resin-coated cuticle Incidentally, two Great Basin bristle- cation in which several large creosote (outer surface) aid L. tridentata in coping cone pines, Pinus longaeva, are the oldest bush rings reside. When referring to the the extremely dry conditions in much of living trees in the United States with veri- characteristics of these creosote bush its range, where rainfall may average as fied ages. One, inhabiting California’s rings, biologists use the term “clonal” to little as 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 centimeters) White Mountains, is 5,000+ years old, and describe to the fact that all members of a annually (Deacon & von Broembsen, n.d.). the other, residing in Inyo County, Califor- given creosote bush ring are genetically Besides the structure of its leaves and nia, is 4,800+ years of age. identical. New shoots sprout from the roots, there are additional properties that outer edges of the root crown, meaning Conclusion enable the creosote bush to survive in its the new shoots are clones of the parent The lives of Agassiz’s desert tortoises arid environment. Stomata, the miniscule plant. and creosote bushes seem to be inextri- pores on the undersides of its leaves, only Ancient stands of shrubs, at least one cably intertwined, particularly as climate open in the morning, allowing the shrub of these creosote bush rings predates the change models forecast that heat and to “breathe” in carbon dioxide when the end of the last glaciation, often called the aridity will increase incrementally in the air temperature is comparatively cool and last Ice Age, that occurred from approxi- tortoise’s habitat. Ω the humidity is fairly high, thus reducing mately 110,000 to 11,700 years ago. References evaporation (Ramirez, 2015). Using a combination Brenzel, ed., K. (2012). The New Sunset Western Garden Book of radiocarbon dating (1st ed., p. 399). New York: Time Home Entertainment. and the known growth Deacon, D., & von Broembsen, D. Creosote Bush. Desert Ecol- rates of L. tridentata, ogy. Retrieved 27 April 2017, from http:// http://archive.bio. ed.ac.uk/jdeacon/desertecology/creosote.htm Professor Frank Vasek Flores, P. (2013). Ode to the Creosote Bush. Retrieved and students from the 23 April 2017, from http://blogs.sandiegozoo. University of California, org/2013/02/06/ode-to-the-creosote-bush/ Riverside estimated Ramirez, J. (2015). 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Creo- the age of the King sote Bush. The Jornada - Rangeland Research Programs. Clone creosote bush Retrieved 25 April 2017, from https://jornada.nmsu.edu/ blog/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-creosote-bush ring in Lucerne Valley, Rodrigue, F. Creosote Rings Preserve. lucernevalley.net. CA to be over 11,700 Retrieved 23 April 2017, from http://www.lucerneval- years old in a paper ley.net/creosote/index.htm#Creosote Rings Preserve published in 1980. “We Location believe it was one of Walde, A., Walde, A., Delaney, D., & Pater, L. (2009). the first life forms to Burrows of Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) as Thermal Refugia for Horned Larks (Eremophila colonize the Mojave alpestris) in the Mojave Desert. ResearchGate. Retrieved The King Clone, an enormous creosote bush ring in Lucerne Valley, California, photographed in Desert when the last 22 April 2017, from https://www.researchgate.net/ 2008 by Klokeid. The average diameter of the King Clone is 45 feet (14 meters). At its widest point, glacier receded, and publication/232684675_Burrows_of_Desert_Tortoises_ the diameter of the King Clone is 65 feet (20 meters). Public domain. Gopherus_agassizii_as_Ther

July | August 2017 Tortuga Gazette 12 The Peggy Nichols Memorial Mini-Show Held in honor and memory of the late Peggy Nichols, Turtle & Chapter members showed their pets, supplied information on Tortoise Care Society member, the 2017 Memorial Mini-Show how to properly care for a variety of turtle species, and answered took place on 6 May at El Dorado Park in Long Beach, CA. the public’s questions.

u TTCS chapter member Greg Curtis greets visitors at the entrance to the turtle show.

q Chapter adoption cshair Pam Ehlers staffs the Adoptions and Care Information table.

p Chapter secretary Anita De Leon (left) and chapter president Richard Roosman (right) posing with a leopard tortoise.

t Chapter treasurer John Wong provides information to show visitors.

u An educational display about the leopard tortoise prepared by chapter member Elizabeth Underwood.

The Turtle & Tortoise Care Society — CTTC Long Beach Chapter meets on the third Friday of the month at the University Baptist Church, 3434 Chatwin Avenue, Long Beach 90808. Visitors are always welcome.

Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 4 13 t Chapter member Rusty Rustwen (left) and his son-in- law (right) showing juvenile desert tortoises.

u Chapter board member Vicki Smith showing a desert tortoise.

q Chapter member Jerry Weir showing adult and juvenile 3-toed box turtles.

p Show visitors admire a large sulcata tortoise belonging to a chapter member.

t Chapter member Bobby Delgado holds his desert tortoise Herbie, enabling visiting children to touch Herbie’s carapace.

p A trio of desert tortoises with their “snackfood” of nasturtium leaves and flowers.

July | August 2017 Tortuga Gazette 14 Happy 10th! Georgia Sea Turtle Center Celebrating Decade of Progress in Conserva- tion, Research and Animal Welfare — Georgia Sea Turtle Center press release • ­gstc.jekyllisland.com Jekyll Island, Georgia—June 9, 2017— injured sea turtles and other animals. An- Following treatment and physical thera- The Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC), nually, more than 100,000 people from py administered by the GSTC team, “Bev” which has delivered Jekyll Island to the across the country visit the center, which was rehabilitated to the point where she forefront of sea turtle conservation and is comprised of an interactive education could easily capture and eat large natural environmental stewardship, celebrates gallery, treatment rooms, and a rehabili- prey, such as blue crab and horseshoe a decade of service and international ac- tation pavilion. crab. She was released in late 2007 along claim this month. Education gallery visitors are invited to the Florida Panhandle and still holds the To recognize the milestone, the award- peer through a large window into a main record as the largest sea turtle ever re- winning, advanced wildlife hospital–and treatment room, where various patients leased by the GSTC, at 212 pounds. the only sea turtle education and reha- are treated by the GSTC’s distinguished In early 2013, Mahi, a green sea turtle, bilitation facility in Georgia–is hosting a veterinarian, Dr. Terry Norton, and a team was discovered seriously entangled in public birthday bash June 10, plus a series of outstanding technicians. It’s a place fishing line in St. Johns County, Florida. of special activities each week through- out of the ordinary, a rare spot where one Rushed to the GSTC, Mahi had to have out the month. might get a live, first-hand look at intri- a flipper amputated and emergency Reaching its 10th birthday is especially cate operations on sea turtles and other surgery also was required to remove fish- momentous because of the significant creatures. ing line she had swallowed. But within a progress the GSTC has made as an orga- Inside the rehabilitation pavilion, an week after these procedures, Mahi, which nization distinctively committed to sea elevated walkway allows the viewing of means “very strong” in Hawaiian, was turtle and wildlife welfare, environmental patients as they rehabilitate in specially able to swim in a deep tank and began to conservation, and education. designed tank systems. Fact sheets pro- eat again. The Jekyll Island Authority established vide patient histories, and daily education Multiple surgeries and treatments and the GSTC, which opened in June 2007, and feeding programs furnish a more-in- special wound care were required for as a conservation program dedicated to teractive way for guests to learn about the Mahi’s ongoing recovery, and they all protecting and restoring populations of patients and the care they are receiving. came at great expense. The GSTC shared sea turtles and other animals, through From the walkway, one can view many of her story, and soon Mahi had attracted rehabilitation, research and education. the daily husbandry and veterinary tasks nearly 1,200 “adoptive parents” from an The GSTC has been heralded for charting that take place in the pavilion. adoring public, a record for the center. new territory in the protection of coastal In addition to various species of turtles, After intensive rehabilitation and care, habitats for native and endangered wild- the GSTC has treated other animals native Mahi was released along Vilano Beach in life–especially sea turtles–through field to Jekyll Island that have needed imme- St. Augustine, Florida. Prior to her release, biology efforts and increased public un- diate care, such as alligators, snakes and she was carried around to “say goodbye” derstanding. birds–especially raptors and marine birds. to several hundred of her supporters by Now the coast’s premier marine life Over the years, the GSTC has tended members of her rehabilitation team. rehabilitation, research and education to more than 3,000 patients of all kinds, “The dream behind the GSTC was to facility, the center provides the public including at least 1,100 turtles and 1,300 create a large facility devoted to both vet- myriad opportunities to learn about sea diamondback terrapins. The staff also has erinary medicine and public education,” turtles and see rehabilitation in action, tagged more than 300 nesting sea turtles, said Norton, who serves as the director of through a host of interactive exhibits and monitored nearly 1,300 sea turtle nests, the GSTC. “It is immensely gratifying that experiences. It strives to connect people and recorded roughly 3,400 sea turtle this enterprise is still driving great prog- of all ages to nature and sea turtles. Year- “encounters,” such as nesting activities ress in sea turtle conservation. Part of this round indoor and outdoor programs are and “false crawls”–occasions when sea success, I think, is due to the way we en- available for guests of all ages. The GSTC turtles come ashore presumably to nest, gage people. It’s critical we inspire more currently offers the public nearly 40 edu- but retreat into the water before laying citizens to embrace conservation values, cational activities. any eggs. especially as urbanization continues to “The GSTC has made extraordinary The GSTC team publicly releases reha- affect the balance between humans and contributions toward aiding wildlife and bilitated sea turtles throughout the year, our natural environment.” educating the public. It’s developed whenever the patients are well enough to The GSTC over the past decade has unique ways to connect people to na- be returned to the ocean. These release benefitted immensely from the spirit of ture and show them the need to preserve events draw throngs and afford audienc- volunteerism and public service. More it,” said Allison Schutes, Senior Manager es an up-close encounter with a sea turtle than 47,000 hours of service have been of the Trash Free Seas Program for the and a chance to witness the animal’s dra- logged by volunteers during that period. Ocean Conservancy. matic return home. In addition, more than 259,000 hours Even as it operates as a fully function- The GSTC’s very first patient, Bevelyn, have been provided by members of ing wildlife hospital, the GSTC also is a arrived from a Southern marine institute AmeriCorps, the nationwide public ser- Jekyll Island attraction, engaging the with a condition that prevented her from vice program. Ω public during its everyday care of sick and opening her mouth to feed properly.

Tortuga Gazette Volume 53, Number 4 15 2017 California Turtle & Tortoise Club Directory Executive Board Officers Orange County Chapter Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 7300, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7300. Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 11124, Santa Ana, CA 92711. Chair: Abigail DeSesa • Vice-chair: Don Williams President: John Kim • Secretary/Treasurer: Traci Fields Secretary/ Treasurer: Robyn Kohr Meeting: Second Friday, 7:30 pm at Grand Street Center (First Presbyterian Church), Meeting: quarterly (January, April, July and October) at 10 am the Los Angles County 146 N. Grand Street, Orange, CA 92866. Arboretum, 301 No. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007. Ridgecrest Chapter Cen-Val Chapter Postal mailing address: P. O. Box 1272, Ridgecrest, CA 93555. Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 16418, Fresno, CA 93755-6418. President: Robert Parker • Vice president: Sue Parker President/Vice president: Robert Scott • Treasurer: Diana Gatti Adoptions: Montynne Yates Meeting: Second Thursday, 7:00 pm at Fresno Unified School District, Del Mar El- Meeting: Second Monday, 7:30 pm at Maturango Museum,100 East Las Flores Ave., ementary School, 4122 N. Del Mar Avenue, Fresno, CA 93704 (no meeting in July or Ridgecrest, CA 93555. August, as school is closed). Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter Chino Valley Chapter Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 3086, Camarillo, CA 93011-3086. Postal mailing address: P. O. Box 1753, Chino, CA 91708-1753. President: Don Williams • Adoptions: Wes Shipway President: Jim Misiak • Vice president: David Bowman Meeting: Contact the Chapter for meeting information. Secretary/Adoptions: Lynda Misiak Meeting: Third Friday, 7:30 pm at Chino Girl Scout House, 5007 Center Street, Chino, Santa Clarita Chapter CA 91710. Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 4012, Castaic, CA 91310. Vice president: Don Williams • Secretary: Jennifer Fields Foothill Chapter Treasurer/Membership: Abigail DeSesa • Adoptions: George Ordway Postal mailing address: P. O. Box 51002, Pasadena, CA 91115-1002. Meeting: Third Saturday of odd-numbered months at 6:30 pm at Valencia United President: Joanna Bolt • Vice president: Robin Robb Methodist Church, 25718 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, California 91355. Secretary: Mardy Graves • Treasurer/Membership: Jeanette Lea Adoptions: Linda Crawford Silicon Valley Chapter Meeting: Fourth Friday, 7:30 pm at Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 No. Baldwin Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 64135, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-4135. Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007. President: Gilbert Castro • Vice president: Lesa Montoya Secretary: Lisa Wong • Treasurer: Dorothy Castro High Desert Chapter Meeting: Third Friday, 7:00 pm at San Jose Masonic Center, 2500 Masonic Drive, San Postal mailing address: P. O. Box 163, Victorville, CA 92393. Jose, CA. 95125. President/Adoptions: Dave Zantiny • Secretary/Adoptions: Mary Dutro Meeting: Second Monday, 7:00 pm at Sterling Inn Regency Room, 17738 Francesca TOOSLO (San Luis Obispo) Chapter Road, Victorville, CA 92395. Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 14222, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406. President: Brandon Froelicher • Vice president: Brian Kusko Inland Empire Chapter Secretary: Lisa Winn • Treasurer: Kimberly LaMar • Adoptions: Bob Thomas Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 2371, San Bernardino, CA 92406-2371. Meeting: Second Wednesday, 7:00 pm at PG&E Community Center, 6588 Ontario President: Monica Dirac • Vice president: Richard Roosman Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 94505. Corresponding Secretary: Vendy Martin • Treasurer: Robyn Kohr Meeting: First Friday, 7:30 pm at “The Ark” Church of the Nazarenes in the Fellow- Turtle & Tortoise Care Society Chapter ship Hall in Young Hall, 1307 East Citrus Avenue, Redlands, CA 92374 . Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 15965, Long Beach, CA 90815-0965. President: Richard Roosman • Vice president/Adoptions: Pam Ehlers Kern County Chapter Secretary/Membership: Anita De Leon • Treasurer: John Wong Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 81772, Bakersfield, CA 93380-1772. Meeting: Third Friday, 7:30 pm at University Baptist Church, 3434 Chatwin, Long President: Rita Linkswiler • Vice president/Membership: Javier Gonzalez Beach, CA 90808-2613. Secretary: Heather Ponek • Adoptions: Lawrence Rushing Meeting: Second Monday, 6:30 pm at St. Philip of the Apostle Church, St. Ann’s Room Valley Chapter (east side of church), 7100 Stockdale Hwy (on the north side, between Ashe and Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 7364, Van Nuys, CA 91409-7364. Gosford), Bakersfield, CA 93309. President/Vice president: Bob Hazard • Treasurer: Karen Berry Adoptions: Valley Chapter Adoption Team Low Desert Chapter Meeting: Third Friday, 7:30 pm at Woodland Hills Christian Church, 5920 Shoup Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 4156, Palm Desert, CA 92261. Avenue, Woodland Hills 91367-3327. General Information: Tony Vaninetti • Secretary: Marlies Dietrich Adoptions: Bill Powers Meeting: First Monday of every even-numbered month 7:00 pm at The Living Des- ert Reserve, 47-900 Portola, Palm Desert, CA 92260-6156.

July | August 2017 Tortuga Gazette the Tortuga Gazette CTTC Online: tortoise.org July | August 2017 Follow CTTC on Facebook Volume 53, Number 4

Featured Species Mojave Desert Tortoise Gopherus agassizii

The California Membership in the California Turtle Membership fees Membership Turtle & Tortoise & Tortoise Club and subscriptions to the CTTC 00 Club is a non-profit Tortuga Gazette are handled through the w Individual/family...$25 501(c)(3) corporation. Contributions are tax CTTC Chapters. The Chapters also man- w Canada/Mexico...$2500 deductible to the full extent of the law. Please age membership renewals. 00 pay by USA funds only (US bank check, mon- Members are free to join any Chapter. w Foreign...$40 ey order, or International Postal Order. Your Many members in California choose to join w Life membership...$50000 Chapter and your renewal date (month/year) a nearby Chapter to participate in Chapter are printed on your newsletter notification. meetings and other activities. Print member- The Chapters’ postal mailing addresses are list- Mail your new or renewal membership/sub- ship forms from the CTTC website and mail ed in the following section. Click on the links to scription to the Chapter of your choice. to the Chapter of your choice. visit the Chapters’ web sites.

Cen-Val Chapter Kern County Chapter Santa Clarita Chapter Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 16418, Fresno, CA Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 81772, Bakersfield, CA Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 4012, Castaic, CA 93755-6418. 93380-1772. 91310.

Chino Valley Chapter Low Desert Chapter Silicon Valley Chapter Postal mailing address: P. O. Box 1753, Chino, CA Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 4156, Palm Desert, Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 64135, Sunnyvale, CA 91708-1753. CA 92261. 94088-4135. Foothill Chapter Orange County Chapter TOOSLO (San Luis Obispo) Chapter Postal mailing address: P. O. Box 51002, Pasadena, CA Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 11124, Santa Ana, CA Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 14222, San Luis 91115-1002. 92711. Obispo, CA 93406. High Desert Chapter Ridgecrest Chapter Turtle & Tortoise Care Society Chapter Postal mailing address: P. O. Box 163, Victorville, CA Postal mailing address: P. O. Box 1272, Ridgecrest, CA Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 15965, Long Beach, 92393. 93555. CA 90815-0965. Inland Empire Chapter Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter Valley Chapter Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 2371, San Bernardino, Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 3086, Camarillo, CA Postal mailing address: P.O. Box 7364, Van Nuys, CA CA 92406-2371. 93011-3086. 91409-7364.

Because they are still living, turtles are commonplace objects to us; were they entirely extinct, their shells — the most remarkable defensive armor ever assumed by a tetrapod — would be a cause for wonder. — Alfred Sherwood Romer (1894–1973) American vertebrate paleontologist

Rendering from Ernst Haeckel's ''Kunstformen der Natur'' (1904). The title translates from German as “All Forms of Na- ture.” Public domain.