Adopting a desert tortoise in Las Vegas: a custodian's guide

When you adopt a desert tortoise in Las Vegas, you become its custodian. Nevada law protects desert tortoises, and state and federal rules govern adoption. This guide covers the adoption program, the habitat requirements, and your responsibilities after you bring a tortoise home.

What being a custodian means

State and federal protections mean desert tortoises in Nevada cannot be bought, sold, or casually traded. Approved custodians provide daily care. They cannot breed, transfer, or abandon the animal without authorization from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW). Custodianship puts the tortoise’s care and protection first.

Working with Tortoise Group

Tortoise Group is the sole federally recognized organization handling desert tortoise adoption in Southern Nevada. The Las Vegas organization works with NDOW and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to place captive-born tortoises in legal homes. Other sources, including classified ads, neighborhood giveaways, and out-of-state rescues, do not meet Nevada’s adoption requirements and could lead to fines or confiscation.

The adoption process

1. Complete the online adoption form at tortoisegroup.org. Include photos of your yard and details about your experience with reptiles or backyard wildlife.
2. A trained volunteer schedules a yard visit to check secure, opaque fencing, an insulated burrow, sun and shade, and a reliable water source.
3. After the inspection, Tortoise Group matches you with a tortoise suited to your yard size and experience. You’ll receive pickup instructions or, in some cases, home delivery.
4. Sign the custodian agreement, which sets out your legal responsibilities under Clark County and federal regulations.

Adoption is free, but your outdoor habitat must be ready for the Las Vegas climate before approval. Allow time to build the burrow, shade structure, and secure perimeter before the yard visit, and budget for the materials.

If you find a stray tortoise

Most tortoises wandering Las Vegas neighborhoods have escaped from a yard. If you find one:

• Photograph the tortoise and note the exact location.
• Contact the Tortoise Group or NDOW immediately for retrieval instructions.
• Keep the tortoise in a shaded, secure holding bin with access to water until help arrives.
• Never release the tortoise into the desert. Captive animals can spread respiratory disease or die quickly.

If nobody claims the tortoise, you may be able to register as its custodian through the official program, provided your habitat meets the requirements.

Why captive tortoises must not be released

Releasing a captive desert tortoise is illegal and can harm wild populations. Captive tortoises can spread disease, and those raised by people often lack the burrowing skills and predator awareness they need to survive. If you can no longer care for your tortoise, contact Tortoise Group or NDOW for help rehoming it legally and updating its custodian record.

After adoption

Keep copies of your custodian paperwork and records of annual health checks. Update the habitat as your tortoise grows. Report address changes or extended travel plans to Tortoise Group so they can help arrange temporary care if needed. Following the custodian agreement helps protect your tortoise and Nevada’s desert tortoise population.