Desert Tortoise Escapes Spark Concern in Las Vegas Neighborhoods
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — As summer sets in, desert tortoises are increasingly spotted on neighborhood streets, leaving many owners anxious about their missing pets.
Aerial West, executive director of the Tortoise Group, confirmed that it is common to receive around 1,000 calls each year regarding lost or displaced tortoises, with summer seeing a notable rise in these reports. “Tortoises are notorious escape artists. If your yard isn’t tortoise-proof, they’ll find a way out,” West cautioned.
Among the worried pet owners is Maia Tabakova, whose tortoise Cheeto recently escaped through an open gate. “I put flyers around the neighborhood and posted on social media; I’ve received many responses,” she shared. The family initially didn’t realize Cheeto was missing until it was too late. Tabakova’s brother-in-law even used a drone to help in the search. Luckily, Cheeto was found safe a few hours later.
While tortoises are often seen as slow creatures, their owners describe them as surprisingly stealthy. Nicole Johnson’s tortoise, Lightspeed, is an example. “Every year he gets bigger and develops new skills,” she noted, adding that he has figured out how to slide open the back door. Lightspeed, approximately 25 years old and part of the Johnson family for eight years, provides endless entertainment. “It’s like having a little dinosaur in our home,” Johnson remarked.
West urges tortoise owners to take precautions during the active summer months. “If a tortoise can see through a gate or a fence, they will continuously try to escape,” she explained.
If you’re missing your tortoise or interested in adopting one, visit tortoisegroup.org for further information.
