Local Desert Tortoise Says Spring has Finally Arrived

Mojave Max, the famous Southern Nevada desert tortoise, officially emerged from his burrow at 11:27 a.m. April 15.  

This year marks the latest that Mojave Max has emerged.  Many residents will agree that this has been a very cool spring for Las Vegas.  However, now that he has emerged, we can expect the temperatures in Las Vegas to continue to climb as spring gets going.

Mojave Max is a live desert tortoise residing at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.  Like other Southern Nevada desert tortoises, he enters a burrow to brumate (the reptilian form of hibernation) every winter and emerges every spring.   Mojave Max’s emergence marks the beginning of spring in Southern Nevada.  Warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours and an internal clock are factors known to contribute to his emergence every year.  

As part of the ninth annual Mojave Max Emergence Contest, students have been studying Mojave Desert weather, temperatures, and conditions to scientifically estimate when they believed Mojave Max would first emerge from his burrow in 2008.  They entered their guesses on line at www.mojavemax.com.  The entries are being tabulated and the official winner will be announced soon.  The winning student will receive prizes including a year-long pass to federally managed fee areas and a personal game system.  The winner’s entire class will receive a field trip to Mojave Max's habitat, Mojave Max Olympic-style medals and T-shirts, while the winner’s teacher will receive a personal computer. 

"Now that Mojave Max has come out of his burrow, spring is officially here," said Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, who declared it Mojave Max Day countywide. "Everyone's favorite tortoise is a great ambassador of the desert, helping our local school children understand our environment and how it works."

Questions about the live Mojave Max residing at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area should be directed to the visitor’s center at 515-5350.   Volunteers, rangers, and members of the public have been watching Mojave Max’s habitat closely for the last few weeks, anxiously awaiting his announcement of spring for Clark County.
 

More information is available at www.accessclarkcounty.com. 

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