Desert tortoise rescued from bottom of mineshaft in Newberry Mountains Wilderness

Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press
Updated ·2 min read
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Officials effected a cave rescue to free a desert tortoise that had become trapped at the bottom of a 30-foot-deep mineshaft in the Newberry Mountains Wilderness last month.

The reptile rescue unfolded in early March, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the 26,100-acre area in the Mojave Desert southeast of Barstow.

Former BLM employee Tom Egan was exploring the wilderness with his daughter when they came across the imperiled tortoise, which was struck at the bottom of the mineshaft, according to BLM spokeswoman Kate Miyamoto.

"Lucky" the tortoise was rescued from the bottom of a mineshaft in the Newberry Mountains Wilderness by federal Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials in early March, 2024.
"Lucky" the tortoise was rescued from the bottom of a mineshaft in the Newberry Mountains Wilderness by federal Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials in early March, 2024.

"Concerned for the tortoise’s well-being, they called several agencies to report their discovery," she said in a written statement.

BLM officials joined with both U.S. Fish & Wildlife and California Department of Fish & Wildlife officials to come up with a plan to free the entrapped tortoise.

"Luckily, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Cave and Technical Rescue Team was available to assist," Miyamoto said.

The rescuers assembled and returned to the mineshaft the following day, along with BLM Biologist Chris Otahal, she said.

"After several hours of preparation and set-up, the rescuers used a large tripod apparatus to safely lower a rescue team member into the mine and emerged with a large, male tortoise named 'Lucky," Miyamoto said.

"Lucky" the tortoise was rescued from the bottom of a mineshaft in the Newberry Mountains Wilderness by federal Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials in early March, 2024.
"Lucky" the tortoise was rescued from the bottom of a mineshaft in the Newberry Mountains Wilderness by federal Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department officials in early March, 2024.

Otahal said he was impressed by the "remarkable" speed with which the multi-agency effort came together.

"We are thankful the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Cave and Technical Team was available to assist on short notice, and the tortoise was found in good health," he said.

BLM officials watched over the tortoise for two nights to make sure it wasn't sick or injured, according to Miyamoto. The 50-year-old animal was determined to be in good health and released back into the wild.

"Desert tortoises can live to about 100 years old, so Lucky is in the prime of his life," Otahal explained. "It was important to rescue this tortoise because it takes so much time and energy to reach his age and now, he can continue to reproduce and contribute to the long-term survival of the species. With his luck he will be bopping around the desert for another 50 years."

BLM officials blocked the mine opening to prevent any other creatures from getting stuck.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Tortoise rescued from mineshaft in Newberry Mountains Wilderness