The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is reminding the public not to take desert tortoises from the wild. So far this year, there have been nine tortoise-related cases in Utah.Most of the incidents happened in Washington County during the summer months, and two of the cases took place in central Utah. The DWR says it's illegal to remove desert tortoises from their natural habitat, especially because they have been listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act since 1990.
DWR Wildlife Biologist Ann McLuckie says once tortoises are removed from their habitats, they can never be released back into the wild due to risks of introducing diseases. She pleads with the public, saying “please let them stay wild and don’t add to the decline of their population.”
