Desert Tortoise Monitoring in Tucson Mountain Park

By Melissa Mundt

As part of the Multi Species Conservation Plan, Pima County Conservation Lands & Resources monitors populations of Desert Tortoises in the Tucson Mountains (learn more about this work here). I was able to go to support the Conservation Biologists and to better understand this programming.

I had the opportunity to go out with Ian Murray and the team in late August. They shared the background of the monitoring protocols and got me up to speed. Desert Tortoises are monitored every 3 years in 20 long term study plots. Tortoises are marked with “license plates” to identify individuals that are recaptured. 

It was hot work over rough terrain but in 5 hours we found and “processed” (took weight, measurements, marked or identified) 7 tortoises in 2 plots. It was an amazing experience to find them and help enter data that is used to monitor the health and population of this iconic species.

Reach out with any questions: melissa.mundt@pima.gov