Take action: Sonoran desert tortoise move slow, but are racing toward extinction

The Sonoran desert tortoise is found south and east of the Colorado River, in the central and western parts of Arizona, and into northwestern Mexico. The habitat of this rare reptile is threatened by invasive species, livestock grazing, increased fire risk, housing developments, off-road vehicles, and increased predation facilitated by human activities.

In 2015, WildEarth Guardians and allies challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ (USFWS) decision not to protect the Sonoran desert tortoise under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As a result of that lawsuit, in August 2020 USFWS agreed to reconsider the tortoise for ESA protection.

USFWS must now go back and take a new look at the imperiled animal’s status in Arizona and has 18 months to make a new determination about the status of the species. Sonoran desert tortoise are known for moving slowly, but without full federal ESA protections, they will continue racing toward extinction. Please raise your voice today!

Photo Credit: E.K. Schahauser

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Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland

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Dear Secretary Haaland,

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In the midst of an extinction crisis, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has a responsibility to step up and protect biodiversity. It's more important than ever for the USFWS to protect habitats and species based on the best available science.

I am very worried about the fate of Sonoran desert tortoise, especially because USFWS denied Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections to this very rare reptile in 2015. Sonoran desert tortoise habitat is threatened by invasive species, livestock grazing, increased fire risk, housing developments, off-road vehicles, and increased predation facilitated by human activities.

Thankfully, the USFWS has agreed to reconsider the Sonoran desert tortoise for ESA protection. As you do that, please fully analyze the multitude of threats these ancient creatures face moving into a highly uncertain future, exacerbated by climate change and record drought. When the USFWS previously denied protection to this tortoise, the agency didn't use a comprehensive analysis, didn't rely on the best available science, and didn't consider how climate change and habitat fragmentation could affect tortoises and their habitat.

That's why I'm requesting that the USFWS include an adequate analysis of all known threats, as well as population data when informing your decision whether to grant ESA protections to these iconic desert reptiles.

Sonoran desert tortoise are known for moving slowly, but without full federal ESA protections, they will continue racing toward extinction. Please help stop extinction.

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