California Turtle and Tortoise Club

08/27/2026

And you can download a pdf of the study here:
https://watermark02.silverchair.com/rspb.2026.0103.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAAlMwggJPBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggJAMIICPAIBADCCAjUGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMhn0lKPQV96NtIUquAgEQgIICBnodppSi3ZCI3AgEI1jB1rQdLo9pwl6Z2xNj1sJzlj0HGC7hF1qlul21lsAamaDHRXW1MQhyZ6qCt7luP_xliYs_fFSasxCcPAX4S1eMvPtlAPDJj769j074FxcSYJNwJT-8_FDJ35lwByZLP5xziC8TcC9t3oD65BPmfZe2fo0l69Olvy_ROFf2BFXrNInLejEbCz-9S-EWKodLi5BRIpw41azVB8nVUkVds-u8l0XmzJEYExbmAbA3KUja3uTJRW40vLUx-m_6SA06KAcj07p6n3nnjjoXHXH2IWMj8akMgzkSjUtzsMLETijSZZofZYCz3QcutQVN6qN_o51vY_dX5RXxOWqH_LDTP3tIDqu9sse4lKUNKSd4rhZ53mYVpLsrlVJQrXQCfqxTlhwRg7V_OumikG67j5SFfD_5jGjmhfuy4QQZedaGOhni5CRSV_h_Mba4G5ljN0mI_m_CIbvmBNN8ql3f5UkFZfxW9bbbBxkEAMan4F0wfsplQsiOZBK-90CQ7exxldNSe5BOVCIo3ddd5EN0shhpSqFsW7_qlx9yVjuiQ1VL8zBXjhHEn9PY0C_X0dfMSWAwTjMShTtQZ-JgcHET5zPvDEUH4CTA_85-4ZRygtMAfz6FM9kHpcsf0fV60duAYMtOQKtoDzYlOc1f_VQaqm-HIOSn2h3JwzzM1Ckt

Using a new computational toolkit, Yale researchers have recovered evolutionary clues from highly degraded DNA and identified two extinct giant tortoise lineages.

08/27/2026

New (extinct) species of Galapagos tortoise.

Using a new computational toolkit, Yale researchers have recovered evolutionary clues from highly degraded DNA and identified two extinct giant tortoise lineages.

07/08/2026

Dogs and a nose for it.

These dogs have a very important conservation job.

Specially trained Boykin spaniels are helping scientists locate threatened ornate box turtles in Illinois, where the species has been declining for decades as prairie habitat has disappeared. With their powerful sense of smell, the dogs can find far more turtles than researchers searching on foot, helping scientists monitor the animals' health and better understand how to protect them.

Researchers say the turtle health project has already tracked thousands of turtles over nearly two decades, providing valuable information about disease, habitat needs and population trends. The findings are helping conservationists improve prairie management and give these threatened turtles a better chance to thrive.

05/23/2026

🐢Today is World Turtle Day 🐢

03/19/2026

03/18/2026

Do you love nature conservation? Tortoises? If yes, we have a special opportunity for you!
Raven monitoring season is just around the corner. Why monitor Ravens in the Mojave Desert? What is the connection to Tortoises? Ravens are overpopulated due to advantages (road kill, trash, power poles for nesting) created by humans. Tortoises’ shells do not harden until they are roughly 5 years old - and ravens know that. Far too many baby tortoises become raven snacks. We monitor ravens every spring to prevent them from having viable nests.
All you have to do is commit to taking a 1-2hr virtual training (how to, using Field Maps, safety) and a minimum of 2 monitoring outings at the DTRNA which requires hiking to known and possible nesting locations (For those that are less mobile - there are routes that can be driven to check for nests.) Interested? Please visit link to register: https://forms.gle/LbkGPrELN4rhPTeg8

Photo credit: Tom Astle

03/04/2026

Porkchop the Green Sea turtle released after rehab. 🐢

Volunteers spotted the injured turtle during a community science monitoring program. The subadult green sea turtle was the first patient in the Aquarium of the Pacific's new rehab facility.

03/02/2026

Once again, a Federal Judge has halted work on the proposed highway through desert tortoise critical habitat at Red Cliffs, Utah. 🐢

The order casts doubt on the "Northern Corridor” project that would cut across the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

03/01/2026

Spring has sprung (a little extra this year…) and it is again time for the Spring Work Party! It is always a nice day of nature and camaraderie. Please register, no cost, at link below.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/desert-tortoise-preserve-committee-spring-work-party-tickets-1983823986948?aff=oddtdtcreator

02/28/2026

We can't get enough of this story. 🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

The release of 158 specially bred Floreana giant tortoises is a win for both the animal and its long-lost island ecosystem