What We Do
Our Services
The Desert Tortoise Recovery Office (DTRO) focuses on research, monitoring, recovery plan implementation, and associated recovery permitting, and provides a centralized point of contact through which these activities are coordinated. The DTRO strives to facilitate increased scientific understanding and improved recovery progress by increasing research activities outlined in the 2011 Revised Recovery Plan.
The DTRO assists in the coordination between managers and research scientists, and tracking and reporting new information about the efficacy of management actions. The DTRO works with the Desert Tortoise Management Oversight Group in coordinating range-wide issues and works with the California Desert Managers Group and other local, state, or regional working groups.
Our Projects and Initiatives
Range-wide Monitoring
Range-wide monitoring is important to evaluate progress toward achieving recovery criteria outlined in the recovery plan. Monitoring has been conducted almost every year since 2001 within Tortoise Conservation Areas in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.
Raven Management
Mojave desert tortoises face a growing threat from increased populations of ravens in their habitat. Numerous partners have been experimenting with different strategies to reduce common raven predation on the desert tortoise.
Translocation and Population Augmentation
Translocation (the movement of an animal from one location to another) can be used to augment or re-establish locally depleted or extirpated populations in conjunction with elevated threat management, habitat restoration, and/or directed research on the factors affecting success.
Latest Stories and Topics
Our Library
Browse recovery-related documents, reports, and guidance in our library. Click "View Our Library" to see all documents and collections.
Our Species
The Mojave population of desert tortoise includes all tortoises north and west of the Colorado River in southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, southeastern California, and northwestern Arizona. Click "View Our Species" to learn more about the Mojave desert tortoise.