{"id":5557,"date":"2022-09-30T12:36:34","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T19:36:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-azgfd-main.pantheonsite.io\/?page_id=5557"},"modified":"2025-10-10T08:29:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T15:29:35","slug":"tortoise-adoption-information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.azgfd.com\/wildlife-conservation\/living-with-wildlife\/wildlife-care-center\/tortoise-adoption-information\/","title":{"rendered":"Tortoise Adoption Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What you Need to Know to Adopt a Tortoise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each year the Arizona Game and Fish Department adopts out hundreds of captive desert tortoises that are surrendered to the department. These tortoises cannot be released back into the wild because captive tortoises can transmit diseases that can decimate our wild population. Desert tortoises are nontraditional pets, but are fascinating animals and families can gain an appreciation of desert wildlife by caring for a tortoise and watching its natural behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adoption applications are being accepted year round.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n care for a desert tortoise\n \n Press to toggle details.\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Care for a Desert Tortoise<\/h4>\n\n \n

Captive desert tortoise cold weather care<\/a>
Proper desert tortoise diet<\/a>
Native Plants for Desert Tortoises: download<\/a>able bro<\/a>chure<\/a>
Desert tortoise health and illnesses<\/a><\/p>\n\n \n