On my travel bingo card for animals we would see this adventure, I did not even have a spot for a tortoise. I have only seen them in zoos. However, on our hike last weekend, I heard a noise and spotted this fellow eating grass about ten feet from the trail. We got a little closer for a picture. It hissed and meandered away. I don’t think we were in danger.
I took this photograph Sunday at Red Cliffs Desert Reserve near St. George, Utah with my iPhone 13. Use what you have with you. I edited the image in Apple Photos.