Tortoise-adoption program expands to Northern Nevada

Tortoise Group, the Las Vegas nonprofit that manages adoption of desert tortoises, is expanding its operations to Northern Nevada.

The tortoises are considered a threatened species in the wild, and a spokesman for the nonprofit said there are not enough homes for them in Southern Nevada. Jim Cornall said there were quite a few people in the Reno-Carson City area who expressed interest in adopting a tortoise last fall, so the group is holding two workshops to educate them and test that interest.

Those who expressed an interest are being contacted to attend a Reno workshop May 31 at Horseman’s Park on Skyline Boulevard or the Minden workshop June 1 at the Cooperative Extension Conference Hall. Both workshops will run from 1-2:30 p.m.

Cornall urged anyone interested in adopting a desert tortoise to submit an application at www.tortoisegroup.org and sign up for a workshop at info@tortoisegroup.org.