Photograph by Johnida Dockens, ACS Biologist
The US Fish and Wildlife Service recently reviewed a petition which seeks to protect the Sonoran population of desert tortoise as a distinct population segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act. The Sonoran DPS of the desert tortoise occurs predominantly on rocky slopes and bajadas within desertscrub habitats south and east of the Colorado River in Arizona. The finding of the 90-day status review is that the Sonoran desert tortoise may warrant federal protection. However, the determination to list the Sonoran population of desert tortoise, and the level of federal protection warranted, will be made at a later date following a more thorough review of the available biological information.
