I Like Tortoise BUTTS And I Cannot Lie: Reclaiming Her Flooded Burrow! 🐢

What happens when a severe storm floods a Mojave desert tortoise’s underground home? They get right back to work! In this video, you get a close-up, tail-end view of my female Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) returning to her burrow just days after it completely flooded. Watch as she expertly excavates collapsed dirt, clears debris, and reshapes her subterranean shelter—kicking dirt straight back at the camera in the process! Why Burrows Are Essential for Desert Tortoise Survival: Thermoregulation: In the harsh Mojave Desert, temperatures can top 100°F (38°C) in the summer and drop below freezing in the winter. Burrows offer a stable microclimate, keeping tortoises safe from extreme temperature swings. Water Retention: Deep underground chambers hold higher humidity levels, helping tortoises conserve precious body moisture and prevent dehydration during droughts. Post-Flood Resilience: Natural rain runoff often silt-lines or collapses burrow entrances. Tortoises are built like miniature bulldozers—their powerful, flattened forelimbs are specially adapted for digging and clearing packed earth. ⁠#DesertTortoise #Reptiles #MojaveDesert #TortoiseLife #CuteReptiles #WildlifeRecovery #Digging #ReptileCare #NaturePOV #TortoiseButt⁠