Baby tortoises are popping up all over Tucson, and a local rescue needs your help finding them homes

Tucson residents finding tiny tortoises in yards, neighborhoods and other parts of town are being asked not to release them or assume they will remain small. Southern Arizona Reptile Rescue and Education says baby sulcata tortoises are appearing throughout the community during their annual hatching season, and the organization needs qualified adopters to provide permanent homes. The request comes as reptile rescues face limited space and traditional shelters generally do not accept these animals.

Sulcata tortoises are native to Africa, not the Sonoran Desert. They are widely sold in pet stores and at reptile expos, and the pet trade does not regulate them in a way that prevents accidental or intentional breeding. A female can lay as many as 30 eggs at once. Since tortoises cannot be spayed or neutered, large numbers of hatchlings can eventually become unwanted pets or strays. Cressi Brown of Southern Arizona Reptile Rescue said the current wave of hatchlings follows a predictable seasonal cycle, with people finding the animals in many locations around Tucson.

For residents who discover one, getting help can be difficult. Brown said Pima Animal Care Center and the Humane Society do not take sulcata tortoises, leaving specialized rescues as one of the few options. Southern Arizona Reptile Rescue accepts baby sulcatas and other reptiles from the community, but Brown said organizations like hers are increasingly reaching capacity. She identified both limited regulation and a lack of consumer research before purchase as contributing factors.

The central challenge is that sulcatas grow dramatically. An animal that fits in a person’s hand can eventually weigh as much as 150 to 200 pounds, and the species can live for more than a century. Brown said people may not understand the eventual size and destructive potential when they buy a hatchling. In Southern Arizona, released or escaped sulcatas can also become invasive, making it important for owners to prevent them from entering the environment and to plan for decades of care.

The rescue is looking for adopters who can provide a stable, secure habitat rather than a temporary solution. Sulcatas need shade, hay and water, along with room to grow. Anyone considering adoption should understand that bringing one home can be a lifelong commitment, potentially extending beyond the owner’s own lifetime. Brown said finding a properly prepared home can be difficult, but she considers it especially rewarding when adopters take the time to learn what the animals require.

Tucson residents should also distinguish these African sulcatas from Sonoran desert tortoises, a native Arizona species that can be found across the Sonoran Desert and into northern Mexico. Sonoran desert tortoises are smaller, reaching about 14 inches, and generally live 50 to 80 years. They spend much of their time in underground burrows to escape heat or cold, becoming more active in spring and late summer. Unlike sulcatas, they are part of the region’s native wildlife and should not be taken from the wild as pets.

Arizona Game and Fish does offer captive Sonoran desert tortoises for adoption. The agency has about 70 in its care, many seized from illegal breeding operations. Those animals cannot be returned to the wild because they may carry diseases capable of harming wild tortoise populations, and some may never have learned how to forage properly. Available tortoises include adults and young animals, but they also require specialized housing and food.

For a captive Sonoran desert tortoise, Arizona Game and Fish recommends a minimum enclosure of 324 square feet for an adult, about 18 by 18 feet, and roughly 64 square feet for a juvenile. Hatchlings need less space, about 16 square feet, but their enclosure should have a protective roof because birds can carry them away. A separate enclosure may not be necessary in a safe yard without other pets, pools or ponds. Otherwise, caretakers must protect the tortoise from those hazards.

Food and shelter are also essential. Native plants are healthier than common treats such as lettuce, and gardeners are encouraged to grow a variety of untreated grasses, vines, flowers and shrubs. Mesquite, palo verde and desert willow can provide shade, mulch and edible material. Arizona Game and Fish advises against herbicides and pesticides on plants offered to tortoises, and warns that spiny cactus should not be planted inside an enclosure, although fruit from native cactus can be picked and offered during summer. Caretakers need shallow water dishes twice a week, rather than constant access, and an insulated underground burrow for brumation, generally from October through March. Residents interested in a found sulcata can contact Southern Arizona Reptile Rescue and Education for adoption information, while those seeking a native desert tortoise can review Arizona Game and Fish’s adoption program and care guidance.