While driving through the Mojave National Preserve on Kelbaker Road last night, I came across this Desert Tortoise trying to cross the highway. First time in all my years in living, visiting, and traveling through the desert that I've seen one. Even though I got a few photos of him I was mostly intent on making sure he made it across the road safely (yes he did). Desert Tortoises will empty their bladder if you pick them up to move them, and since they use their bladder as a water store this can kill them from dehydration. This makes it critical for their survival not to touch or harass them in the wild, and it's actually a felony if you do! I gave him a wide berth, though he walked right up to me at one point. Mostly though I was making sure to flag motorists into the other lane as they came flying down the road, trying to keep them away from this little fellow.
