Legacy hardrock mining in California has left more than 200,000 abandoned mine features (e.g., shafts, adits, prospecting pits) throughout the state, with a larger concentration in California’s deserts. These mine features pose a hazard to humans and the environment if not remediated, but these features have also become habitat for wildlife. The federally - and state - listed Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) use abandoned mine adits for refuge, as well as being found alive and dead in mine shafts and in pits as shallow as two feet deep. The California Department of Conservation’s Abandoned Mine Lands Unit (AMLU) collaborates with partner agencies to protect people from abandoned mine hazards in California, while preserving mining history and wildlife habitat. Human safety and bat habitat are often the primary considerations when planning closures; however, desert tortoises should also be considered, especially within their critical habitat. Using information from inventory and wildlife surveys, land managers can modify bat gates and fences within the species’ range. Modifications such as tortoise “doors” in mine gates, filling shallow prospecting pits, and the addition of tortoise fencing at mine shafts are some initial steps to allow continued habitation and protect this listed species, respectively.