Establishing and sustaining an environmental education program is a high priority as described in the Mojave Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan. The goal of the education program is to build public support for, and involvement in, desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) recovery. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) organized and hosted a public outreach campaign to inform the public about desert tortoise conservation issues, change learned behavior, and encourage responsibility for public actions that affect the species. The campaign called ‘Desert Tortoise Week 2022’ occurred within the first week of October. The Service encouraged conservation partners to develop and host educational events, also advertised on social media, to promote conservation and recovery actions for desert tortoises. Conservation partners hosted a series of desert tortoise talks, guided tours, and presentations. The Service also developed social media presence that challenged the public to engage in desert tortoise awareness events by posting photos of desert tortoise habitat during recreational activities. Conservation partners also developed educational virtual lesson plans, hosted webinars, recruited volunteers to remove invasive plants, and established scavenger hunts for the public to enjoy and learn more about the species. Overall, Desert Tortoise Week 2022 was a successful education recovery action.

Born and raised in western Michigan and attended college at Humboldt State University and SUNY-ESF. Began my wildlife management career in 2012 working for NY department of environmental conservation primarily on wetlands and waterfowl management within the Finger Lakes region. Then moved into a biologist position with the Missouri Department of Conservation, restoring and managing state and private lands across northeast Missouri while also working to conserve bobwhite quail and managing CWD. Currently, a wildlife biologist with the USFWS working with threatened and endangered species, specifically desert tortoise recovery within the Colorado Desert region of southeast California.