Knoll
(Desert Tortoise)
Gopherus agassizi
California Desert tortoises are protected by law in
California. The California Turtle and Tortoise Club handles the
permitting of all tortoises in California. Desert tortoises thrive
in warm climates but require shelter from the sun and the cold. Even
in the desert they hibernate for a short period in the winter. They
are susceptible to respiratory illnesses that are extremely contagious, so
captive tortoises must never be returned to the desert. If the
bottom of their shell is concave, the tortoise is a male. The shape
allows the male to mount the female. If the bottom of the shell is
flat, the tortoise is a female. They are on the move constantly which is why
they are often lost by pet owners. Sadly many tortoises have a hole
drilled in their shell allowing the pet owner to tether the tortoise so it
cannot wander away. This often ends in tragic loss of limbs when the
chain or rope wraps around the leg and goes unnoticed until the circulation is
cut off.
Often, we receive calls from a person who found a desert tortoise
wandering around their neighborhood. Desert Tortoises can actually move quite
quickly and can dig or plow through most barriers home owners erect. Once
loose, they can travel a long way from their original home. This makes it difficult to find their
original owner.
This is the case with Knoll.
Despite efforts to find the owner he wound up having to be placed here.