By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Looking to add a new desert pet to your household?
Over 100 desert tortoises are up for adoption by the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) after being taken from illegal captive breeding operations.
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“Many people don’t even consider opening up their homes to desert tortoises, but they make fantastic and personable pets,” Tegan Wolf, desert tortoise adoption specialist for AZGFD, said in a release.
The department’s yearly tortoise adoption program aims to match Sonoran desert tortoises to loving homes. Because they were in captivity, these tortoises cannot be released into the wild.
AZGFD said that, due to recent surrenders, its care facility now has more than 100 tortoises of different ages and sizes, and all are up for adoption.
“It’s rewarding to hear stories from those who have adopted a captive tortoise and made them part of the family, because they’re a unique alternative to traditional family pets,” Wolf said. “They offer many of the same life lessons to children, and they can provide just as much companionship and personality as a dog or cat.”
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If you’re interested in adopting a tortoise, visit the department’s website to complete the next steps.
Tips for caring for Sonoran desert tortoises:
- Burrow first, then apply: Desert tortoises spend their time outdoors. Given Arizona’s extreme temperatures, tortoises require a burrow to protect them from the heat in the summer. AZGFD has videos and instructions on creating a burrow. Individuals who want to adopt a tortoise must show that they have a burrow ready for their new tortoise prior to submitting an application.
- Lifelong companions: Desert tortoises can live for 80 to 100 years. Often, families will enjoy a single tortoise companion for multiple generations. Loyal and true, tortoises are often included in estate planning and wills.
- Plant-powered diet: Desert tortoises are completely herbivorous, eating a wide variety of plants in the wild. Ideally, a captive tortoise should be allowed to graze throughout the day on grasses, leafy plants and flowers.
- Uniquely Arizona: Remember, these Sonoran desert tortoises are a state-protected species and cannot be taken out of Arizona. While not currently listed as endangered, the species faces threats like habitat loss and development.
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