Mojave Desert Tortoise Recovery

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering up to $2 million in grant funding to support recovery actions for the Mojave Desert tortoise across its California range. Projects may focus on habitat connectivity (fencing, wildlife crossings), centralized monitoring and data infrastructure, habitat restoration (hydrology, predator control, invasive species removal, seeding), and population augmentation (head‑starting, translocation, genetic testing). Eligible applicants include businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments operating in the designated counties (Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino). Applications are accepted online through December 3 2026, with award announcements expected in early 2027 and performance required through March 15 2029. • Funding: $2 M total (award amount per project dependent) • Eligible entities: business, nonprofit, public agency, tribal government • Geographic focus: Mojave Desert tortoise range in six California counties • Eligible activities: fencing, wildlife crossings, GIS monitoring, habitat restoration, predator control, invasive‑species removal, seeding, head‑starting, translocation, health screening, post‑release monitoring • Application deadline: 12 Oct 2026 04:00 UTC • No letter of intent or matching funds required • Funding method: reimbursement