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SILVER STATE SOLAR PROJECT

DESERT TORTOISE MORTALITY REPORT- SS1055

SUBMITTED JULY 28, 2015

Tortoise SS1055 was found depredated on July 27, 2015 by Ironwood tracker Corey Mitchell. The

239mm male was initially transmittered for the research portion of the Silver State project in

September, 2012. He was translocated off the project site into the corridor in September, 2014. It was

tracked daily through the fall 2014, and weekly throughout the winter. Twice weekly or greater tracking

has continued through the active period of 2015. Most recently the tortoise was been seen in a soil

burrow on July 23rd

, and had been out foraging the previous two encounters. A map of the tortoise’s

activity area will be submitted separately.

SS1055’s empty shell was found at 652053 E, 3942979 N on its carapace with gnashes, tooth marks, and

missing scutes consistent with predation. The blood stains and lack of urine pooling on the plastron

indicate predation was likely the cause of death for SS1055.

There is no indication the death of this translocated tortoise was directly attributable to project

activities.

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