Wildlife refuge tortoises visit schools

If you are thinking about buying a desert tortoise, be forewarned because it is quite possible that the reptiles could outlive you.

Denise Bausch, visitors service manager at Imperial Wildlife Refuge, explained that if you get to the age to where you can no longer take care of the tortoise, it is important that you donate the animal back to the Arizona Game & Fish Department.

Wednesday, the Kofa Wildlife Refuge put on a presentation for the Discovery Club, which includes kindergarten to sixth-grade students from Gwyneth Ham, Palmcroft and McGraw Elementary schools.

Lynda Larsen, an aide for the Explorers, explained that the program takes place during the summer from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the staff takes the children to see movies on Tuesdays and to the pool on Thursdays. They have also done other various activities like bowling, tea parties and having Kofa Wildlife Refuge workers come visit.

The children gathered in a circle to listen to Bausch explain the important things that kids need to know about desert tortoises and their habitats.

“If they see a desert tortoise in the wild, they should observe it from a distance and leave it alone,” Bausch explained.

Bausch brought out a 40-year-old tortoise two baby tortoises from their separate cages and placed them in the middle of the circle so the children could view the reptiles up close.

“He looks hungry. I think he is going to eat me,” one child exclaimed as the tortoise crawled slowly toward her.

Bausch informed the children that desert tortoises can actually catch upper respiratory tract disease from the kids, so they need to be extremely careful around the animals when they are sick.

“My favorite part was when she told us how big the burrows were. They are at least three to six feet long,” said J.J. Beyer, 11, in reference to the tortoise habitat.

Kindergartner Delaney Dennis said that she loved being able to see the turtles and quickly corrected herself after hearing the difference between turtles and tortoises and said that the reptiles were actually tortoises.

“She wants the kids to know not to pick up wild animals and not to disturb their habitat,” said Lynn Cramer, president of Kofa Wildlife Friends.

After seeing the tortoises, the kids crowded around Bausch to see all of the different types of animal skulls that they had also brought for the presentation.

“We want the public to be aware of the different things we offer and bring their kids so they can enjoy the wildlife resources,” Cramer said in regard to the Kofa, Cibola and Imperial refuges.

Cramer explained that events like Wednesday's are just the beginning of different experiences that the refuge wants to start extending to people in the Yuma area.

The Kofa Refuge Friends are looking to start a Junior Bird Program in which children can meet once a month to go bird-watching in the wildlife refuges.

“The Friends group is becoming more visible in the community and is always recruiting volunteers to help at the refuges,” Cramer said.

There are some big events to look forward to this fall and winter at the refuges, including an insect rally, a GPS geocaching event and another event for special needs children.

To learn more about the refuge, call 783-7861.

Sarah Reed can be reached at sareed@yumasun.com or 539-6858.