OUTDOOR BRIEFS

NEW TORTOISE IN TOWN

Mojave Max's successor chosen

A successor has been chosen to fill the role of Mojave Max, the long-lived icon of the Mojave Desert, the Clark County Desert Conservation Program, and local environmental education efforts. The original Mojave Max died on June 30 of natural causes.

"Desert tortoises can live for 50 years, and there are records of wild desert tortoises living for up to 80 years or more," said Polly Conrad, reptile biologist for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. "Tortoises die from predation, disease, human-related factors such as urbanization and all the associated threats. Also from environmental factors such as drought flood and fire. It is important for us to track desert tortoise population trends, including causes of mortalities, because the tortoise is an indicator species for the health of our Mojave Desert ecosystem."

Although he is probably not genetic progeny of the original tortoise, the new Mojave Max will fulfill all the duties and have the same status of the first. The new desert icon is a relatively young and healthy 19-year-old male tortoise that measures 12 inches long and weighs about 10 pounds. He should be able to fulfill his new responsibilities for a long time.

Meanwhile, organizers will continue to have the annual Mojave Max emergence contest at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center. Each year, school children are invited to guess the date when the tortoise will emerge from hibernation, or brumation, in his burrow.

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Goose hunters need reservations

Opening day of the 2008 goose season in Lincoln and Clark counties is Saturday. Hunters who plan to hunt on the Key Pittman or Overton wildlife management areas on opening day will need to make reservations ahead of time. A drawing for opening day reservations, for the goose opener, on the two management areas will be at 8 a.m. Monday. Reservations will be taken at the NDOW offices in Las Vegas and Henderson or at the appropriate management area.

At Key Pittman reservations are needed only on opening day of the duck and goose seasons, but at Overton reservations are required for the opening days and for the remainder of the waterfowl season. All reservations must be made in person throughout the season.

Hunters planning to hunt geese at the Overton WMA need to be aware that the management area will be open for Canada and white-fronted geese on Saturday, closed Oct. 26-31, and reopen for geese on the Nov. 1 duck opener. The management area will then be open for both geese and ducks on alternate days thereafter.

Hunters who pursue their waterfowl at Key Pittman after the season openers must obtain reservation cards at the Frenchy Lake or Nesbitt check stations prior to hunting. This card must be completed and returned to the check station after hunters are done for the day. The maximum hunter capacity on a season opener at Key Pittman is 55 hunters at any time. Hunters must check in and out at the main entrance and park only in designated areas.