When Will 'Mojave Maxine' Emerge? Lake Elsinore Students Encouraged to Enter Annual Tortoise Contest

PALM DESERT, CA – Mojave Maxine, a desert tortoise at The Living Desert, is celebrating her 9th year of announcing spring has arrived. Students in grades K-12 from throughout Southern California will have the opportunity to predict when the 40-year old desert tortoise, who lives at The Living Desert, will rouse from her brumation (hibernation for reptiles) and make her first appearance of 2017, indicating longer, warmer days are on the way.

The first entry received from each county that is closest to the exact day and time wins a $50 gift certificate, a Federal Lands Pass, a visit from a desert tortoise, Mojave Maxine t-shirts for their entire class and a $100 gift certificate for their teacher. Students from Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties are invited to participate in the contest.

In 2016, more than 1,250 students submitted predictions prior to Maxine’s star-studded arrival on February 8 at 11:56 a.m. A video feed will be available online at http://www.livingdesert.org/ed... to watch for when Mojave Maxine appears beginning January 30.

“Each year we look forward to receiving the students’ entries and anticipating Mojave Maxine’s emergence,” said Peter Siminski, Director of Conservation. “This annual contest is a fun, enlightening way to educate kids about desert animals such as the desert tortoise whose population is threatened.”

Maxine and her fellow desert tortoise typically enter brumation around Thanksgiving. Their bodies know when to go to sleep based on the outside temperatures and the change in daylight hours.

The contest is open now until Mojave Maxine emerges from her burrow. To enter the contest, visit www.livingdesert.org/mojave-maxine.

– SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION ON BEHALF OF: The Living Desert