But first, I have a question. I'm in the Phoenix area and in need of a large quantity of quality, screened brown desert dirt. The local rock and landscape supply yards I have visited have stuff with too much sand mixed in, does anyone know where I can find my pay dirt?
I have an adult male desert tortoise born in captivity in about 1990. I built an elaborate den and pen in my (former) back yard to house him. Several years later, someone who knew I had him asked me to care for another tortoise (also born in captivity). Several years later they turned into a breeding pair and were quickly separated, I had my legal limit.
Several years later, my then wife chose a life style that was not conducive to sustaining our marriage. I have a new house now, I gave her the other one where my tortoises live. I have to re-create a pen and den to move my male and 3 three year olds. I do not have the adult female anymore.
I start out by digging footings about a foot down and framing the den about 4 courses high in fence block which i concrete stake and fill for stability and insulation. I back fill what looks kind of like a grave site with good old desert dirt (tamping and soaking in layers to compact the dirt) and cover the den in 3/4 inch plywood which i first cover in roofing paper to resist moisture. I burrow out a bit of a starting point for the front entrance then heap several feet of dirt on top of the whole thing for more insulation. It is quite the mound of dirt when I am done. The entrance opening has a plywood overhang and is well above the flood plane.
I am hoping to hear from anyone who knows where I can find some good quality screened desert dirt. Hello all, looking forward to some future tortoise talk.[/size][/font]
I have an adult male desert tortoise born in captivity in about 1990. I built an elaborate den and pen in my (former) back yard to house him. Several years later, someone who knew I had him asked me to care for another tortoise (also born in captivity). Several years later they turned into a breeding pair and were quickly separated, I had my legal limit.
Several years later, my then wife chose a life style that was not conducive to sustaining our marriage. I have a new house now, I gave her the other one where my tortoises live. I have to re-create a pen and den to move my male and 3 three year olds. I do not have the adult female anymore.
I start out by digging footings about a foot down and framing the den about 4 courses high in fence block which i concrete stake and fill for stability and insulation. I back fill what looks kind of like a grave site with good old desert dirt (tamping and soaking in layers to compact the dirt) and cover the den in 3/4 inch plywood which i first cover in roofing paper to resist moisture. I burrow out a bit of a starting point for the front entrance then heap several feet of dirt on top of the whole thing for more insulation. It is quite the mound of dirt when I am done. The entrance opening has a plywood overhang and is well above the flood plane.
I am hoping to hear from anyone who knows where I can find some good quality screened desert dirt. Hello all, looking forward to some future tortoise talk.[/size][/font]