Southern Utah tortoise population continues decline
Associated Press - May 23, 2008 7:05 PM ET
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - It's been a tough few years for the desert tortoises in Utah's southwestern corner.
According to new figures, the number of tortoises living in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve continues to fall.
http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp...73702&nav=menu554_2Eight years ago, there were more than 3,200 adult tortoises living on the 62,000-acre reserve. Now, state officials say there are around 1,700.
A state biologist attributes the decline to fire, drought, disease and other factors.
