Highlights
- The Arizona Game and Fish Department has more than 100 Sonoran desert tortoises available for adoption after recent surrenders from illegal captive breeding operations.
- Tortoises cannot be released into the wild because they were raised in captivity, making adoption the only viable placement option.
- Applicants must build a burrow before submitting an adoption application; tortoises can live 80 to 100 years and cannot be taken out of Arizona.
- The department accepts adoption applications year-round at its website.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is placing more than 100 Sonoran desert tortoises into homes after a wave of surrenders from illegal captive breeding operations left its care facility at capacity, the agency announced Thursday.
Because the tortoises were raised in captivity, they cannot be returned to the wild, making adoption the only path forward. The department's yearly tortoise adoption program matches the animals to Arizona households, and the agency says all tortoises currently in its facility, spanning different ages and sizes, are available.
Tegan Wolf, the department's desert tortoise adoption specialist, said in a release that the animals are more companionable than most people expect. "Many people don't even consider opening up their homes to desert tortoises, but they make fantastic and personable pets," Wolf said. Wolf added that tortoises "offer many of the same life lessons to children, and they can provide just as much companionship and personality as a dog or cat."
Prospective adopters face one prerequisite before submitting an application: a burrow must already be in place. Arizona's summer heat requires tortoises to have a burrow for protection, and the department provides videos and instructions for building one. The agency will not approve an application without proof the burrow is ready.
Owners should also plan for the long haul. Sonoran desert tortoises can live 80 to 100 years, meaning a single animal may outlast its original owner. The department notes that tortoises are frequently included in estate planning and wills. The animals are entirely herbivorous and should be allowed to graze on grasses, leafy plants, and flowers throughout the day.
The species is state-protected and cannot be transported out of Arizona. While not currently listed as endangered, the department notes the tortoises face threats from habitat loss and development.
The department's adoption page accepts applications year-round.
Sources
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- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 13/08/2026 22:45
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 13/08/2026 22:45. Every claim traces to a source.
