Desert Tortoise Field Manual

The purpose of the Desert Tortoise Field Manual (Manual) is to update and consolidate existing survey and handling protocols, procedures, and applicable Federal regulations related to the federally-threatened Mojave desert tortoise into one document. This Manual supersedes all previous handling guidelines and procedures documents for the Mojave desert tortoise. This Manual does not authorize individuals to handle desert tortoises. Such authorization comes from both Federal and State wildlife resource agencies, including, at least, those listed above. This document supersedes what was previously titled Guidelines for Handling Desert Tortoises during Construction Projects (Desert Tortoise Council 1994, revised 1999).