Mojave Max Emerged from his Burrow at 11:14 a.m. on February 19, 2004.

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Congratulations Richard Raso, for winning the 2004 Mojave Max Emergence Contest. Richard guessed that Mojave Max would emerge on February 19th at 9:59 a.m.

Richard is a sixth grade student of Mr. Wanemacher's fifth period science class at Walter Johnson Middle School.

In 2004, Mojave Max emerged from his winter’s brumation (reptilian form of hibernation) earlier than ever recorded: February 19 at 11:14 am. More than 2,000 students entered the contest on-line and Richard’s prediction was the closest to Mojave Max’s actual emergence time.

Four sixth-grade science classes worked together through an interdisciplinary program at Johnson Middle School to scientifically estimate when Mojave Max would first exit his burrow in 2004. Each class studied and reported on a different aspect of the Mojave Desert including the climate, temperatures, and historical trends, before all the students entered their predictions. Mr. Wanemacher was very proud of his students stating, “You are all winners. You all became interested in science, worked together as a team, and participated in this contest.”

Students in Richard Raso’s class will receive a field trip to Mojave Max's habitat at the Red Rock National Conservation Area, CD’s, and class pizza party on May 13. Mr. Wanemacher, the teacher of the winning student, received a new personal computer; and a giant traveling trophy has been awarded to the school for one year.

Listen to an Audio Clip from the radio about Richard Raso and Mojave Max.

Above is a photo of Richard with Mojave Max and Commissioner Maxfield.