ST. GEORGE — The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve will be holding a series of events in celebration of the fourth annual Desert Tortoise Week.
The event was organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to the group’s Facebook announcement on Thursday.
“It was their email that prompted me to start thinking about what we can do this year to make tortoise week bigger and better than ever, at least for the reserve,” Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Outreach Coordinator Ammon Teare said.
Each day, beginning Oct. 3, the reserve will host a different event to promote “desert tortoise appreciation and recovery,” the post states. The reserve planned various events to engage people on “all levels,” Teare said.
“Desert Tortoise Week celebrates the incredible reptile found in much of the Southwestern U.S,” the post states. “Listed as ‘threatened’ since 1990, recovery of the desert tortoise depends on the management and protection of their remaining habitat, as well as public awareness.”
Tortoise Week is the result of a collaboration between Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, Snow Canyon State Park, Conserve Southwest Utah and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“We’re really grateful for all our partners,” Teare said.
Planned events
Monday
To kick off the week, the organization is hosting a litter cleanup in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve’s zone six for “people who are interested in getting back to the land and getting engaged with conservation work,” Teare said.
Participants should expect to meet at the Bearclaw Poppy Trailhead at 9 a.m. for instructions and trash bags.
Zone six is the newest addition to the reserve and has been used historically for illegal recreation and dumping, according to the event’s calendar details.
To organize the event, the reserve partnered for the first time with Love Where You Live, a nonprofit organization that works to remove litter from public spaces.
Give Your Land a Hand is being dissolved and the reserve is partnering with Love Where You Live. Teare said the reserve is working to support volunteers in transitioning to their new partner.
“We’re really grateful for their willingness to help out and to send volunteers our way through all the communication channels that they have,” he said.
Those who plan to participate should wear appropriate hiking attire and take a pair of work gloves to avoid injury from picking up metal, glass or other dangerous materials, Teare said.
“(Attendees should) bring plenty of water and just take care of themselves, so the experience is as enjoyable as possible,” he said.
Tuesday
The reserve is encouraging people to stop by their visitor center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 180 N 200 E Suite 111 to see native desert animals, like Mojave Desert tortoises and a gila monster. Informational material, magnets and stickers will also be available at the center.
The event is intended to teach people about local wildlife. Additionally, Teare said visitors could view animal models and photos, as well as learn about local trails.
“And that way people will be able to appreciate, certainly the desert tortoise, but all of the animals that we have here in our area,” he said.
Wednesday
From 9 a.m. to noon, volunteers will pull cages off plants that were reseeded in burned areas from 2020’s wildfires.
The event was organized by the reserve, the Bureau of Land Management and Conserve Southwest Utah.
“Your help will prepare us to put new (desert tortoise) food and shelter plants in the ground this year,” the Facebook post states.
There is limited space for parking, so to avoid individuals parking in dangerous places or overfilling the trailhead, the reserve asks that those interested RSVP online, Teare said.
Thursday
From 6-7:30 p.m, A Paint and Craft Night will be held at the Pioneer Park Ramada. Using a live tortoise as a model, attendees will paint with artist and advocate Carol Bold. Attendance is limited, so individuals are encouraged to RSVP online.
For those unable to join paint night in person, the reserve will provide activity instructions online for crafts that can be done at home, like folding origami tortoises, Teare said.
Friday
Individuals can hike with Snow Canyon State Park and the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve at the newly opened Tortoise Walk Trail. Participants will meet the reserve’s ambassador tortoises, learn more about the park and hike down the path to the seating area featuring a granite, 2-ton tortoise statue.
Attendees will meet at the Upper Galoot Picnic Area from 9-11 a.m.
Teare said that both Thursday’s paint night and Friday morning’s hike will be “great opportunities for people to just get out and enjoy the land, enjoy the reserve, and maybe get the chance to see a live tortoise or two while they’re hiking.”
For more information, visit the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve’s website.
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