2026 Introduction to the Mojave Desert Tortoise
Registration will open in early July 2026. Details will be announced here by mid-June 2026.
The course includes two days of Online Lecture Sessions, a brief online quiz, and one full day of a Field Workshop in Ridgecrest, California. Completion of all parts, plus an online course evaluation will be required to receive certification.
- The Online Lecture Sessions will be on Zoom, on Oct 23, 12 to 5 PM and October 24 from 9 AM to 2 PM, PDT. You must attend both live sessions. We do not offer pre-recorded, asynchronous viewing of the lectures.
- There will be a brief online quiz to complete before attending a field workshop.
- The Field Workshop is required to complete the course and will be given in the field in Ridgecrest CA. You choose one day, EITHER Nov 1 or 2.
- There will be an online evaluation to complete prior to receiving your certification letter.
Those who previously attended the Online Lecture Sessions in the past without the corresponding Field Workshop will need to register for and attend all of this year’s course, there would be no difference in price, there are updates to the sessions, and the review will support the field experience.
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Online Lecture Sessions
The lectures will be on two half days (not available individually) online via Zoom.
This online lecture course includes specific information about the biology, ecology, habitat preferences, life history, and health of the Mojave Desert Tortoise as well as presentation of the threats this species faces today. We will introduce how we do field surveys and tortoise handling and discuss the permits and authorizations that are required from various agencies. This course is designed for wildlife biologists, zoologists, natural resource specialists, wildlife managers, land managers and recreation specialists and may be useful for teachers, students, professionals working with the public, and the general public.
Field Workshop – Ridgecrest, CA
Prerequisites: Attendance of both Online Lecture Sessions and the online quiz.
The morning demonstrations will cover identification of sign of desert tortoise and other desert species, and types and construction of tortoise-proof fencing. There will be a brief lunch break on site. The first afternoon demonstration will be how to process a desert tortoise. The final activity will be to walk a 1-kilometer transect, learning how to detect and record tortoises and sign. We hope for interactive sessions with many questions.
This workshop will be held in the field, outdoors only. Additional protocols will be considered if CDC or California requires them.
Free Alumni Audit
Introductory Course Online Lecture and Recordings
Anyone who completes the full Introduction to the Mojave Desert Tortoise Course, and maintains an active membership with the Desert Tortoise Council, will be eligible for a free Audit of the Online Lecture Sessions and have access to the recordings of the Online Lecture Sessions when they are available for a few weeks beginning in mid-November. This will help you keep up with the latest information provided in the Lectures year to year.