The Mojave Desert tortoise has roamed the Southwest for millions of years. Today, spotting one in the wild is becoming heartbreakingly rare. Once found across California, Nevada, Arizona, and parts of Mexico, this keystone species is now teetering on the brink of extinction. In some regions, their populations have plummeted by as much as 90% since 1984.

Decades of habitat loss, vehicle collisions, off-road vehicle damage, military activity, disease, and the worsening impacts of climate change have pushed the tortoise toward collapse. California recently recognized the crisis by upgrading the species’ status from “threatened” to “endangered” under state law — an acknowledgment that without urgent action, the tortoise could vanish forever.

The Mojave Desert tortoise is more than a symbol of the desert. It is an “ecosystem engineer,” creating burrows that shelter countless other species. Its disappearance would cause a ripple effect of loss across an already fragile desert environment.

Yet at the very moment this species needs more protection, federal agencies tasked with safeguarding it are facing budget cuts and staff reductions. Without increased funding and strong protections, the tortoise’s future — and the health of the desert ecosystem it sustains — is at risk.

We call on the U.S. Congress, the Department of the Interior, and relevant state and federal agencies to:

• Prioritize and expand funding for Mojave Desert tortoise conservation and habitat restoration.
• Strengthen and enforce protections against habitat destruction, vehicle damage, and other threats.
• Collaborate with conservation organizations to ensure long-term recovery plans are fully resourced and implemented.

The Mojave Desert tortoise has survived heatwaves, droughts, and predators for over 15 million years. It should not be lost on our watch. Protecting it means protecting the desert’s delicate web of life — and honoring our responsibility to future generations.

Please join us in urging leaders to ensure increased protections and funding for this remarkable species before it’s too late.

Photo: Stacy Manson/NPS