Mojave Max Emerged from his Burrow at 12:32 p.m. on March 15, 2000

Congratulations Lauren Simons, for winning the 2000 Mojave Max Emergence Contest. Lauren guessed that Mojave Max would emerge on March 15th at 12:35 a.m.

Mojave Max is a live desert tortoise residing at the Red Rock National Conservation Area. Like other Mojave Desert desert tortoises, he enters a burrow to brumate (the reptilian form of hibernation) every winter and emerges every spring. Warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours, and an internal clock are factors known to contribute to his emergence every year. Mojave Max's habitat area received 4.18 inches of rain so far this year.

Above is a photo of Lauren and her class at Red Rock National Conservation Area where her class got to visit Mojave Max and his habitat.