Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Super Bloom Traffic Endangers Joshua Tree Tortoises
Joshua Tree National Park. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
()
National Park Service officials have warned visitors to be mindful of wildlife after three tortoises were killed in Joshua Tree recently, according to the LA Times. Joshua Tree has become incredible popular in recent years, more than likely because of California's newfound cultural relevance (desert aesthetic now runs far and wide), so the advent of super bloom in the desert means the arid park has been consistently overrun with visitors. The super bloom doesn't just attract people, though; the flowers have brought more of the local species out to feed. Namely tortoises, who are "eating and foraging like crazy," according to Pasadena Star News. Unfortunately, this has meant the tortoises have had tragic interactions with recent visitors.
Three tortoises were killed by cars over the span of a week, and normally the park sees one such death a year. As a result, officials are urging visitors to be mindful and look out for wildlife when they visit the parks. They told the Associated Press that "objects that may look like a rock or branch on a road could be one of the Joshua Tree's resident animals." According to the National Park Service, tortoises are "'threatened,' just one notch below 'endangered.'" If visitors continue to disregard the tortoises, it could threaten their threatened status even more.
The danger of too much foot traffic has extended to the flowers as well, with locations like Diamond Valley Lake closing its super bloom path over the weekend to better enforce the boundaries between visitors and the wildlife.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist