I had another close encounter of the Tortoise kind on my walk in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. As I walked up the trail I spotted a tortoise ambling up the trail towards me. He was about 30 feet away, so I just stopped and stood still thinking he would divert his path. Instad he got closer and closer without turning. then I discovered what he was after. He walked right up into my shadow and plunked himself down for a nice rest in a shady spot right at my feet.
When I finally moved he quickly ducked in his shell, then wandered off into the desert shrubs. I don’t know who was more surprised, him or me.
Click to see some more Roland Lee photos of desert tortoises in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve