Mojave Max Emerged from his Burrow at 8:30 a.m. on March 19, 2001

Congratulations Kristin Siegrist, for winning the 2001 Mojave Max Emergence Contest. Kristin guessed that Mojave Max would emerge on March 19th at 12:00 p.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 Kristin with Mojave Max in front of her school. Kristin and her class will get to visit Mojave Max at his home at Red Rock National Conservation Area.