More than 90% of all eggs are free of contamination at the time they are laid. Contamination with Salmonella bacteria and with certain spoilage organisms occurs essentially afterward. Proper washing and sanitizing of eggs eliminates most Salmonella and spoilage organisms deposited on the shell. Furthermore, our egg whites are pasteurized and 100% safe.

There is a 4 to 6 month waiting list during the months of March through November. There are no tortoises adopted out during the hibernation period. Females are extremely rare. When a tortoise becomes available, and your application has been approved, we will contact you. All captive desert tortoises must be registered with the California Department of Fish and Game. The Rescue provides these applications free of charge. See similar questions...

Gopher tortoises (gopherus polyphemus) are a threatened and legally protected species, which digs a burrow in sandy soils. These tortoises live on land, not in water. Click here for a much more detailed description of this herbivorous reptile. To better understand why the gopher tortoise warrants our protection, click here. See similar questions...

Once humans discover tortoises, they typically want to either protect or remove the tortoise. Gopher tortoises are a federally protected species. Current Florida state regulations clearly indicate that it is illegal to handle or disturb gopher tortoises or to bother their burrows. If your goal is to remove the tortoise(s) away from areas where it may not be wanted, the FWCC must issue a relocation permit to have it moved, often in conjunction with a licensed relocation service. See similar questions...

Turtles and Tortoise belong to the same family called Testudines. However, the Tortoise is a member who is well... See similar questions...

Gopher tortoises need to dig burrows, roam and graze freely to remain healthy. If a gopher tortoise chooses to burrow on it's own and live in your yard you could think of it as having a gopher tortoise as a pet, but you must not confine, harass or domesticate a gopher tortoise. Keeping gopher tortoise as pets is illegal unless you have a permit. See similar questions...

Yes, if they complete the appropriate application form satisfactorily. The application needs to be completed by an adult. It is a special commitment, as a desert tortoise can live to be 80 to 100 years old. The primary qualifications include: no below-the-ground pool, no small children, no large dogs, and a completely fenced or blocked in area. Providing veterinary care and a proper diet become your responsibility. Hatchlings ("babies") need very special care. See similar questions...

Especially turtles that get fresh meat are very sensitive to salmonella infection. Chicken meat is one of the great causer. A method is to fry or cook the meat first, only this is not good for the animal. After all, they do not get it cooked or fried in nature. If you follow the tips we give you at the various descriptions of species, the chance for infection is very little. Make sure you always wash your hands with a disinfecting soap after you have been close to the turtles with your hands. See similar questions...

Tortoises probably do not get lonely, they tend to be solitary reptiles. Even so, the Arizona Department of Game & Fish allows one tortoise per household member, so being a caretaker for several tortoises is possible. However, the TAP will not place males and females together (see above), and males may fight. So, we recommend female tortoises if you want to care for more than one. No. These foods are bad for the tortoise. See similar questions...

Much of this site is dedicated to doing just that. There are also some guidelines which should be followed if gopher tortoises are present in your yard or community. Learn much more about the gopher tortoise itself by clicking here, or review the wealth of material presented in the main menu of this site. In particular, you may wish to help promote awareness and understanding in recognizing threats to tortoises, some of which may be in violation of the laws designed to protect them. See similar questions...

Terry Carman] No, tortoises generally can not swim. Tortoises are terrestrial, which means that they live on land. Unlike aquatic turtles, tortoises lack webbed feet. Should a tortoise by accident fall into a pond or swimming pool it could sink to the bottom like a rock and drown. It is therefore very important when planing an enclosure for your tortoise that it has no access to large bodies of water other than a very shallow dish to drink from. See similar questions...

The Tortoise Diet program is designed to cause the loss of stored body fat while maintaining lean weight and a strong metabolism. There is no one-size-fits-all diet program that can achieve these goals. The Tortoise Diet provides a uniquely personalized plan for each individual, based on their own body’s specific energy requirements. See similar questions...

On The Tortoise Diet you'll be able to eat a wide variety of delicious food. Each person is encouraged to look at a list of healthy and nutritious foods and develop what we call a "Top 40" list. Your "Top 40" list will simply be a list of healthy foods that you love and could eat nearly every day for the rest of your life. Creating delicious meals and snacks around these enjoyable foods is one of the reasons the Tortoise Diet works so well. See similar questions...

The Tortoise Diet requires two commitments from people that are absent in most of the quick weight loss diets. The first commitment is to lose weight while improving your health. There are many facets of the Tortoise Diet program that are designed to improve health, and exercise is certainly an important one. See similar questions...