This year marked the 50th Annual Desert Tortoise Council (DTC) Symposium held on February 25 through February 28, 2025, at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. The DTC is at the forefront of promoting conservation of the desert tortoise in the deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico.
ECORP was an exhibitor and the Registration Desk Sponsor of the symposium, and ECORP biologists, Mari Quillman, Alden Lovaas, Shelby Dunn, Taylor Dee, and Verity Richardson were in attendance. Mari is the current Chairperson of the Desert Tortoise Council. Alden, Shelby, Taylor, and Verity participated in the symposium as volunteers and members of the Host and Arrangements Committee.
The symposium began with a field trip to two wildfire burn sites at the Mojave National Preserve (MNP): 2020 Dome Fire and 2023 York Fire. Debra Hughson, retired science advisor for the MNP, explained the history of fire at the MNP and challenges with managing wildfire in the remote Mojave Desert. Field trip attendees, including ECORP biologists Alden, Shelby, Taylor, and Verity, were able to see islands of unburned vegetation surrounded by acres of burned Joshua tree woodland.
The symposium session topics were diverse and informed attendees on current research on and relating to desert tortoises. Session topics included translocation and head-starting, updates from United States Fish and Wildlife and Bureau of Land Management, genetics, and perspectives from new Desert Tortoise Council board members.
In celebration of the 50th annual symposium, a donor sponsored Western Soiree Mixer was held. The mixer was an immersive experience with intricate western décor and a western costume contest! Two of the ECORP biologists dressed up as cholla and cottontop cacti to everyone’s amusement!
For more information on the desert tortoise, contact Mari Quillman at (949) 561-4020 or Don Mitchell at (909) 307-0046.
