The tortoise that saved the rabbit!

Did you know a single Mojave Desert tortoise burrow can become a shelter for rattlesnakes, owls, kangaroo rats, and many other desert animals? 

This week, we explore the Mojave Desert with wildlife biologist Brianna Fogel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Learn how desert tortoises survive in one of North America's harshest environments, why they spend so much time underground, and why scientists call them a keystone species that helps support an entire desert community.

➡️ Part of the Wild Critters USA series, created with PBS Nature and the National Wildlife Federation

➡️ Learn more about desert wildlife with Ranger Rick Magazine: https://rangerrick.org/

➡️ Learn more about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: https://www.fws.gov/

➡️ Free Wild Critters USA coloring pages: https://www.cumbrekids.org/color-along

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💛 Support this podcast by joining The Curious Club: ⁠⁠https://www.cumbrekids.org/curious-club

⁠⁠Orbit Family Conversation Starters! 

1. If you could design the perfect desert burrow, what would it be like and which animals would you invite to share it? 
2. Why do you think some animals can survive in places that seem too hot, too cold, or too dry for people? 
3. What would happen to the Mojave Desert ecosystem if desert tortoises disappeared? 

Continue learning as a family!

• Draw your own desert tortoise burrow and decide which animals might use it for shelter. 
• Explore a map and find the Mojave Desert. How is it different from where you live? 
• Look for other examples of keystone species and the important roles they play in ecosystems. 

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