River Mountains Loop Trail

Camera…….Action…..On the trail this spring

March 19, 2010 –  By tomorrow winter is over and spring is here.  Get your camera’s out and hit the trail.  With the wet winter, well over 3″ of rain, our desert trail will look like a trail through green fields.  Well at least for the next month or two. Wild flowers and wild life should be abundant.  And remember, Henderson has a photo contest each fall during National Trails Day for the best trail photos taken in Henderson.  I’ll be out this weekend with my camera and hopefully next week I can post a few green photos here to prove my point.

Wildflowers Spring 2009

You can ride your bike, but I prefer to walk/hike it that way you would miss anything….Tortoise will be out soon and so will snakes so watch out.  I got a great photo last fall of a brown Tarantula on the trail; spring last year several tortoise photos.  Other friends have photos of big horn sheep on trail etc.

RMLT Desert Green Mountains at Railroad Pass 3-20-2010

 

Here is a photo I took in Spring 2010 which I entered into Henderson’s Trail photo contest and won second in this category…

Wildflowers & bike riders Lake Mead April 2011

Desert Tortoise On the Trail….March 2009

It is March 2009 and the warm weather will bring our Desert Tortoise out of their burrows any day now.  We had numerous sightings last year on the trail.  Please…please do not touch them or harass in any way.  Tortoise are protected under the Federal Endanged Species Act* as a Threatened Species.  If you think one is in danger on the trail you can flag other users around it until it leaves the area.

 Tortoise Crossing trail 2008

If you see a desert tortoise wandering in a developed area or find an injured tortoise, please call the Tortoise hotline at 702-383-TORT (8678).

Large Tortoise on Trail 2008

Large Tortoise on Trail 2008

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 NOTE: Federal protection means it is illegal to “take” a desert tortoise. “Take” means to “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct.” The habitat of the desert tortoise is also protected and may not not be damaged.  Both civil and criminal penalties can be levied. Criminal penalties of $25,000 fines and 6 months in jail can be assessed for each violation.
PHOTO GALLERY TORTOISE –

Desert Tortoise on Trail

Tortosie on trailDesert Tortoise have been seen on trail recently. Please do not touch or handle. They are a endangered species and are protected by Federal law.

On a recent bike ride on the trail with the APA mobile workshop, an male individual rode up to our group with a baby tortoise in his hand to show us. He was scolded by several in our group, put the tortoise down and left. My picking it up and moving such a young tortoise this individual most likely signed it’s death warrant. I would be happy to hear from others about moving young tortoise like this….rmltman