Edwards Air Force Base Environmental Management

09/20/2024

09/20/2024

Let's take things slow, at least on the road!

🚙 A wildlife collision happens every 39 minutes in the United States. In Joshua Tree National Park, such a collision could mean the loss of a protected animal. In fact, cars are one of the biggest threats to the endangered desert tortoise.

🐢 Wildlife can end up on roads in the park for many reasons, including traveling through their natural range, scavenging for food, soaking up the warmth of the pavement, or even drinking from the water left by heavy rain.

🏜️ Take it slow on our roads and watch out for wildlife — you never know what you might see!

👉 You can make a difference for the desert tortoise! Learn more and donate at the link in our bio.

Image Description: Photograph of a turkey vulture flying overhead, taken near Cottonwood Springs.

📷 NPS/Emily Hassell

09/20/2024

FAQ:
Habitat and Burrow Questions

🐢How do I to build a burrow above ground?
💚Check out the burrow building suggestions on https://tortoisegroup.org/desert-tortoise-habitat-checklist/

🐢Will a tortoise eat fake grass?
💚We hear that tortoises try fake grass. Soon they will find it not worthwhile.

🐢My male tortoise keeps bothering my female. What can I do?
💚Please separate the sexes to avoid breeding. She will be quite stressed and may become ill under those conditions. Please avoid breeding as there are many pet tortoises needing homes. Please contact us if you’re interested in having them sterilized. We may be able to help.

🐢I just got two hatchlings. Now what?
💚See the section on hatchlings in desert tortoise care. Prepare an outdoor habitat for them. In the meantime, you can keep them indoors temporarily in something not slippery that has a small “burrow” and water. Have a place to take them outside where they can go in and out of the sunlight as needed. Email Tortoise Group for help.

🐢I am using a dog igloo for a burrow. Is that okay?
💚No. A burrow needs to be snug with no air circulation and underground for insulation. Your tortoise can either overheat in the summer or freeze in the winter in an improper burrow.

🐢I have 2″ of dirt on the board over cement blocks. Is that enough insulation?
💚No. You need at least 1-2 feet of earth on an aboveground burrow.

🐢What other questions do you have?
💚Let us know and we’ll answer!

09/20/2024

09/06/2024

Did you know that your local library card can get you into over 200 state parks across California – for free? All you need to do is get your library card, check out a California State Library Parks Pass, and head out to enjoy the awe-inspiring beauty and wildlife of California's state parks. 🌲🐻🏞️

How does it work?
1. Head to your local public library and check out a State Library Parks Pass using your library card.
2. Don’t have a library card? No problem! Visit your local library to get one for free.
3. Use the pass for free day-use entry for one passenger vehicle (with up to nine people) or a highway-licensed motorcycle at participating state parks.

Where can you use it?
The pass is accepted at over 200 state parks across California! Check out an interactive map of participating parks and nearby libraries here and learn more about the pass here 👉parks.ca.gov/LibraryPass

09/06/2024

09/06/2024

With extreme heat now forecast through Monday night in Southern California, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services has moved to phase 2 of the State's Extreme Temperature Response Plan.

Learn More: https://wp.me/pd8T7h-11eD

09/06/2024

08/12/2024

Your chances of being tripped by a tortoise are low but never zero.

While prepping for their work last week, this little troublemaker gave our manning camp rangers quite the run around as it continued to bob and weave underneath the work truck avoiding their many attempts to relocate it. It eventually made its way back into nature, hopefully to the safety of its burrow ❤️🐢

As the monsoon season continues, wildlife will become more active and search out water sources. Keep an eye out and give them plenty of space.
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(JC; 📸, NPS)

08/12/2024

A coalition of conservation partners are coming together to tackle challenges posed by increasing development and the effects of climate change in the Mojave Desert. The newly designated Mojave Desert Sentinel Landscape brings together a unified team of local, state, federal, and non-governmental organizations and agencies working together to restore habitat and ecosystem function. MDLT is a proud partner in this new effort.

By creating wildlife corridors, improving soil health, and managing watersheds to build resilience against a warming climate, this multi-agency conservation management strategy will help recover habitat for the Endangered Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), Western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), and more.

The partnership includes five military installations: the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, National Training Center Fort Irwin, Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow.

You can read more at https://sentinellandscapes.org/landscapes/mojave-desert/

08/12/2024

08/07/2024

In the summer, we often see a spike in reports of people being followed by a coyote while walking along a path or sidewalk. While this behavior is often misinterpreted as “stalking” or “aggressive”, in reality that coyote is likely just trying to protect their offspring.

In the summertime, coyote parents are protective of their growing pups, and they will often “escort” humans away from their families by following them until they feel secure — especially if humans are accompanied by a dog, which coyotes may see as a threat to their young.

If a coyote follows you, be sure your dogs are leashed and calmly continue walking away. If you feel that the coyote approaches too closely, you may consider using humane hazing techniques.

It’s also common to see larger groups of coyotes at this time of year. Coyote mothers typically have 3-7 pups, though the exact number is influenced by resource availability and competition. In response to population drops and disrupted social systems due to intentional killing, including trapping, hunting, and killing contests, coyotes have a unique adaptation to produce larger litters—often with greater pup survival. Therefore, in areas that experience high amounts of indiscriminate killing, larger numbers of coyote pups may be born and survive to adulthood due to increased resources following a brief population decline. However, the mortality rate of pups usually rests between 50 - 70% in their first year.

Help coyote families this summer by promoting coyote coexistence in your community, keeping your distance from known coyote dens, and keeping your dogs on leash while walking or hiking.

📷 Larry Taylor, Contributor | .nature.photography

08/07/2024

The horned lark is one of 200 species of bird that can be spotted in Mojave National Preserve. Horned larks are sparrow sized birds that prefer open spaces with grass that only grows a few inches tall. They nest on the ground by digging holes in the soil and then weave a nest out of plant material and line it with whatever soft material they can find. They usually lay 2 to 5 eggs. The eggs hatch in 11-12 days. The baby birds' nest for another 8-10 days. Horned larks like to eat seeds and insects.

NPS Photo

07/29/2024

3 Lessons Learned from a Desert Tortoise in Joshua Tree- from Luke Basulto

National Parks Conservation Association has been working to expand Joshua Tree National Park and establish Chuckwalla National Monument to protect desert tortoise habitat. Here’s why an intact desert landscape matters for the tortoise – and us.

Luke Basulto is the California Desert Program Manager for NPCA and a Board Member of the Desert Tortoise Council

https://www.npca.org/articles/4238-3-lessons-learned-from-a-desert-tortoise-in-joshua-tree

07/17/2024

My monsoon brings all the boys to the yard. And by "boys" we mean desert tortoises.

🌧️ Right after heavy rainfall is a particularly dangerous time to be a desert tortoise. Tortoises often come to roads for a drink.

🚙 Cars pose one of the biggest threats to this endangered animal. You can protect them from your car by:

🚸 Driving conscientiously by following the speed limit and keeping a look out for wildlife on the road, including tortoises.

☂️ Checking the shade under your car for tortoises taking shelter there.

⚠️ Checking for alerts and changes in conditions online or in the NPS app for information about rainfall, flooding, and wildlife activity.

Image Description: Tortoise drinking water on the side of a paved road.

📷 NPS/Tyler Green

07/16/2024

LET ME GO OW
AS I BLISTER ON MY THUMB
LET ME GO OW
BIG BUG, DON'T SQUISH THAT ONE 🎶

As the temperatures soar, visitors should keep a keen eye out for blister beetles on the prowl. While there are dozens of different species of these insects - 150 species in Arizona alone! - the most prominent is the master blister beetle (Lytta magister), which can grow up to 2 inches in length!

Distinguished from other blister beetles by their striking black and reddish-orange color, they can often be spotted in or around common desert shrubs like brittlebush, which they feed on. Their coloration advertises their toxicity to birds and other predators and should be taken as a warning to humans as well.

When disturbed, they can pop a vessel in a leg joint, and out will ooze a yellowish blood (cue the "eeeuuuwww!") The blood has a foul smell and can cause painful skin blisters. Get it? Blister beetle! As with any wild creature, admire safely from a distance and resist any urge to handle them.



📸: NPS/A. Cattoir

07/05/2024

We are having to cancel this event due to the excessive heat. Saturday is to be the hottest day of this heat wave, 115, making it still around 105 after sunset. We were so excited to see all. The good news is we will duplicate this event on Aug 3. Mark your calandars!
Stay cool and be safe!

07/03/2024

07/03/2024

“Summer Critters for…”

With summer here, and increasing temperatures, water becomes a scarce necessity for thirsty wildlife, including our flying pollinator friends—bees. On hot days, *bees are attracted to any available source of moisture, from open water sources to human sweat and car air conditioning condensation.

If you encounter these bumbling insects, follow these tips:

•If you are allergic to bee stings, carry appropriate medication and consider avoiding areas with large bee populations. Visiting during the cooler winter season may also help, as bees are less active.

•When around bees, avoid sudden movements, jumping, or swatting. Move away slowly and stay calm. Bees are focused on finding water and will leave you alone if you are not threatening.

•Keep all liquids tightly sealed and turn off your car’s air conditioner prior to arriving at your destination, which can help allow your unit to dry out and prevent bees from swarming.

•Wear long-sleeved, sweat-wicking clothing to prevent attracting bees. Breathable layers can offer extra protection from stings and the heat.

•If you are stung by a bee and are allergic or have a reaction, call 911 and notify park rangers immediately.

Bees are an essential part of Joshua Tree’s desert ecosystem. Please treat them respectfully, and they will do the same.

Photo by: NPS

06/28/2024

06/28/2024

When the new lyric should have been "he was a moth to a Joshua tree" instead of "...a moth to a flame" but we weren't asked for writing advice🔥🙄

So, what’s the buzz? It’s Pollinator Week, the celebration of the vital role pollinators have in the lives of over 75% of ALL flowering plants. Pollinators include bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, birds, and even bats!🐝🦇

There are many vital pollinators in the desert, but we want to share one unique to the to our namesake species! Unlike most plants, many yuccas rely on one specific pollinator. For the Joshua tree, this is the Yucca Moth!

Are they just wingin’ it? Well, sort of! The yucca moth collects pollen while laying eggs inside the flower. When the eggs hatch, they eat seeds from the tree. The yucca moth and Joshua tree rely on each other for survival, a win-win for all!🙌

Pollinators are essential and not only for flowering plants like the Joshua tree! They support the growth of the food we eat, animal habitats, and healthy ecosystems!

What’s your favorite local pollinator? 🦋🐦🐝

Photo by NPS/ Carmen Aurrecoechea

06/14/2024

Captive Mojave Desert Tortoises and the Overpopulation Problem Mojave desert tortoises can be amazing pets; but they are a huge responsibility. When one tortoise leads to two, you can end up with dozens of little tortoises. It’s against the law and cruel to release them into the wild. Then what do...

06/12/2024

Aestivation: a state of dormancy that animals do to conserve energy and water during drought-like conditions.
- Tortoises will enter aestivation that can last days or even weeks.