At a Glance
- Mojave Maxine, a desert tortoise at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, ends her winter brumation when spring nears.
- Students in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties guess her emergence date for a class trip prize.
- Why it matters: Locals track her exit as a seasonal signal, much like Punxsutawney Phil on the East Coast.
Mojave Maxine, the celebrity desert tortoise at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, is stirring anticipation as January progresses. Fans watch her burrow, knowing she could emerge at any moment to signal the arrival of desert spring.
How Maxine Predicts the Season
Unlike paparazzi targets, Maxine wears no clothes and grants no interviews. Instead, she keeps a webbed foot pressed to the sandy floor of her burrow, sensing subtle temperature shifts. When conditions feel right, she ends her cold-weather brumation and trundles into view.
Past exits show a pattern:
- Late January emergence: recorded multiple times
- Early February: also common
- Brumation start: late November
The tortoise’s internal calendar rivals Punxsutawney Phil’s shadow-based forecast on the opposite coast.
Student Contest Draws Three Counties
Each year The Living Desert invites K-12 students to submit their best guess for Maxine’s emergence date. Entries arrive from:
- San Bernardino County
- Riverside County
- Imperial County
The winning student earns more than bragging rights. Their entire class receives a zoo field trip to meet a live tortoise up close. Teachers use the contest to weave biology, meteorology, and local wildlife into lesson plans.
Tracking Tips for Desert Fans
Observers monitor daytime highs, soil warmth, and sunlight hours, but Maxine alone decides when spring has arrived. Zoo keepers post updates on her burrow cam and social feeds once movement is detected.
Key signs to watch:
- Consistent daytime temps above 70°F
- Soil temperature rise at burrow entrance
- Maxine’s first peek outside, often mid-morning
When she finally emerges, the zoo celebrates with a small ceremony and announces the contest winner within days.
Key Takeaways
Mojave Maxine’s emergence remains a beloved desert ritual. Her timing hints at spring’s arrival, while the student contest links classrooms to local wildlife. Check The Living Desert’s alerts-and keep your own calendar ready-for the moment she leaves her burrow and ushers in a new season.
