Mojave Max Emerged from his Burrow at 10:25 a.m. on March 7, 2003.

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Congratulations Jose Lopez, for winning the 2003 Mojave Max Emergence Contest. Jose guessed that Mojave Max would emerge on March 7th at 10:25 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 Jose with Mojave Max and Commissioner Reid.