Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. As monsoon rains bring much needed water to Arizona’s deserts, you may notice some of the state’s beloved shell-backed reptiles on ...

The Sonoyta mud turtle has just one remaining refuge in the U.S. Now, scientists say they've been told to "prepare for the ...

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today. Spotting a Mojave Desert tortoise is ...

State wildlife officials are adopting out captive desert tortoises and reminding Arizonans why pets cannot be released into ...

The tortoises are what ecologists call "ecosystem engineers." ...

TUCSON, Ariz. - Federal officials have concluded that Sonoran desert tortoises native to Arizona have a relatively stable population that doesn’t need protection from environmental threats, but ...

PHOENIX — They’re not fluffy, they don’t play fetch and they certainly don’t roll over. But there is such a thing as a lap tortoise. Dotty the desert tortoise climbs into the lap of Seyda Robertson in ...

Following more than three decades of declining numbers, the Mojave desert tortoise has been officially declared an endangered species in California. The California Fish and Game Commission voted ...

Arizona Game and Fish Department still has desert tortoises that need forever homes. Captive tortoises grow up to about 14 inches long and can live upwards of 80 years, AZGFD said. However, they ...

TUCSON (KVOA) - The Sonoran desert tortoise will not be placed under federal protection after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service struck down potentially listing the shelled Arizonan under the ...

As monsoon rains bring much needed water to Arizona’s deserts, you may notice some of the state’s beloved shell-backed reptiles on the move. State wildlife officials have a message for those who may ...

PHOENIX — They’re not fluffy, they don’t play fetch and they certainly don’t roll over. But there is such a thing as a lap tortoise. What’s more, pet tortoises can wag their tails, will plod on up to ...