Evaluation of Evidence Supporting the Effectiveness of Desert Tortoise Recovery Actions
By William I. Boarman1 and William B. Kristan2
Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5143, published 2006.
Table 1
Recovery actions and the threats that these actions are expected to reduce or eliminate.
ActionThreat
Fencing (for animals)Grazing, wild horses and burros, road mortality, wild dog or coyote mortality, utility corridors
Stocking level reductionGrazing
Closures (to humans, seasonal or permanent)OHVs, mining, military operations, agriculture, recreation, waste disposal, poaching, utility corridors, noise and vibrations
Habitat restorationGrazing, OHVs, construction, mining, recreation, wild horses and burros, utility corridors, invasive plants, drought
Reduction of vehicle speed limitsConstruction, mining, recreation, waste disposal
TranslocationConstruction, mining, low population size or local extirpation, disease, military activities
Choosing prescribed burn seasonFire-caused mortality
Predator controlMortality from feral dogs, ravens, or coyotes.
Feral animal controlWild horses and burros, feral dogs
Law enforcementPoaching, handling, collection, unauthorized OHVs
Culvert installationRoad mortality, population fragmentation
Land acquisitionInadequate protection from many of the threats listed above