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Tortoise Laws & Regulations
Wild vs. captive rules and Berlandier's Tortoise protections.
Laws Regarding Wild and Captive Tortoises are Different
Wild Tortoises
Desert tortoises must not be taken from the desert. Although laws differ slightly in the four states (Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah) where tortoises occur, tortoises cannot be removed from the wild without Federal and/or State permits. The Mojave desert tortoise is Federally-listed as a threatened species in the part of its geographic range occurring north and west of the Colorado River. Specifically, this definition includes tortoises living in the deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and the portion of the desert that occurs north of the Grand Canyon–Colorado River in Arizona.
Captive Tortoises
In Arizona, California, and Nevada, legally-obtained captive tortoises and their progeny can continue to be kept as pets. In Utah, a person may possess a captive tortoise with a certificate of registration from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, under Rule 657-3-19, for scientific or educational use, if, in the opinion of the Division, the scientific or educational use is beneficial to wildlife or significantly benefits the general public without material detriment to wildlife. The Division rarely grants certificates of registration for tortoises to persons living in Washington or Kane counties.
Arizona
Pursuant to R12-4-407.1, desert tortoises legally held prior to January 1, 1988, may be possessed, transported, or propagated. Possession limit is one desert tortoise per person. Progeny of lawfully held desert tortoises may, for twenty-four months from date of hatching, be held in captivity in excess of the stated limit. Before or upon reaching twenty-four months of age, such progeny must be disposed of by gift to another person or as directed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
California
Captive tortoises and their progeny can continue to be kept as pets. In 1972 and 1973 the California Fish and Game Commission passed special laws to permit people who had desert tortoises in their possession prior to March 1973 to keep those captives. Under the Act, captive tortoises and their progeny are to be maintained under normal husbandry practices. However, the current position of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is that it is illegal to breed captive tortoises. Individuals with a legal captive must have the tortoise registered with the California Game and Fish Department. The progeny of legally acquired captives must also be registered. The Department issues stickers similar to car license plate stickers for each captive tortoise. There is no charge for registration. Captive tortoises cannot be transferred from one person or household to another without the permission of the Department.
Nevada
Tortoises legally held prior to August 4, 1989, may continue to be held in captivity without a license or permit. Written permission must be obtained from the Division of Wildlife prior to transporting a desert tortoise across state lines. You must be a resident of Nevada to adopt a tortoise through the adoption programs.
Utah
Under Rule 657-3-19 a person may possess a captive tortoise with a certificate of registration from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources for scientific or educational use, if, in the opinion of the Division, the scientific or educational use is beneficial to wildlife or significantly benefits the general public without material detriment to wildlife. The Division rarely grants certificates of registration for tortoises to persons living in Washington or Kane counties.
Berlandier's Tortoise
Gopherus berlandieri
The Berlandier's Tortoise inhabits the scrub woodlands with sandy soils, also chaparral and mesquite, from South-Central Texas in the United States southward into the Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. A low reproductive rate, historic heavy exploitation by pet suppliers, and other factors have led to a severe population decline of the species. This has resulted in its being listed in 1977 as a protected nongame (threatened) species, thus affording protection from being taken, possessed, transported, exported, sold, or offered for sale.