Hatchlings from only a few eggs out of every hundred actually make it to adulthood. Nests are often dug near the burrow opening early in the season and farther inside, late in the season. Some nests are dug away from the burrow but usually under a shrub. After laying, the female leaves the nest and the soil temperatures support growth of the embryos. Incubation periods of 90 to 120 days are typical.
Tortoises grow at varying rates depending upon forage availability.
Generally, Desert Tortoises don't reach sexual maturity for 15 to 20 years. Conservation Ravens, Gila Monsters, Kit Foxes, Badgers, Roadrunners and Coyotes are all natural predators of the Desert Tortoise. They prey on juveniles, which are 2-3 inches long with a thin, delicate shell. In recent years Desert Tortoise of the Mojave Desert is federally listed as a threatened species. State and federal wildlife and land management agencies and local jurisdictions are actively involved in conservation programs to help the recovery of the Desert Tortoise throughout the Mojave Desert.