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We are on Cahuilla, Chemehuevi/Mission,Serrano,
Southern Paiute, Quechan Native Land
Tambien, Esta Tierra fue Mexico
Guided Ecological Observation Tours
Chuckwalla National Monument
30 mins east of Indio, CA
50 mins east of Palm Springs
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Desert Tortoise Information
Recent Sighting 3/20. Tortoise in Peril.
These two families from Chicago had never been to California and the Colorado Desert. They called last minute to experience the desert tour and received the chance of a lifetime to see a desert tortoise up close and personal. We stayed back 15 feet so we would not scare it further. It was such a long shot to see it 15 feet off the trail. What a special Spring Equinox surprize blessing!
Pray for this animal to find food.
Compare and contrast!!!
The photo of the tortoise with the flowers was 2017, we had plenty of rain and flowers were in superbloom.
The recent photo 3/20/25, there is no Food! This tortoise came out because of the recent rains over the last 3 weeks, probably in hibernation for a year. The rump is pale yellow indicating long dormancy, and possibly malnurished.
But no flowers are out......yet, hopefully they will pop delayed in April. We prayed that it would find something to eat.
Wildlife and plants are in crisis state with severe drought evident. last year we rerceived nearly zero rain. Finally rain fell here in the Maniobra Valley surrounding Chiriaco Summit, CA.
Desert Tortoise are having a hard time these days.
Climate change, severe drought, human population explosion and ravens are all factors putting a lethal weight on the population of the ancient creature that lives most of its life underground, dormant.
There is just no food and Ravens are popular around Chiriaco Summit being an oasis in the desert where trash and scraps are often littered, instead of put into a covered trash can provided by Chiriaco.
Over the last 13 years at Chiriaco Summit, I have witnessed several dozen tortoise interactions, while providing ecological engagements of the Chiriaco Plateau. In the last 3 years, i have only seen 2 (spring 2023), and I also saw 2 shells of dead tortoise. I have never seen shells or dead tortoise before on any trails or roads.
Desert Stewards Ecological Engagements provide opportunities for guests and locals of the Coachella Valley to immerse in the Tortoise Ecology, connect to the land and go slow and quiet to protect all of the creatures living in the Desert Tortoise Linkage Reserve conservation area.
Remember, don't pick up or touch or get too close to Tortoise. They may urinate from fear and loose vital water resources that can kill them. Tortoise are masters of recycling, and conserving water. Please only move a tortoise if it is in immediate danger of death or being harmed. Provide water after the event if they do urinate.
Peace, light and love,
Randall James