LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Mojave Max, Southern Nevada’s desert tortoise and weather prognosticator, emerged from his burrow May 10, 2026, at 12:50 p.m., breaking his previous record for his latest emergence.
The previous late-emergence record was May 8, 2025, at 2:09 p.m. The earliest date Mojave Max has emerged was Feb. 14, 2005, at 11:55 a.m.
MORE ON FOX5: Mojave Max sets record for latest spring emergence in Southern Nevada
Mojave Max is the mascot for the Clark County Desert Conservation Program and lives at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. Like other Southern Nevada reptiles, he enters a burrow to brumate every winter and emerges every spring.
Mojave Max’s emergence typically marks the beginning of spring-like weather in Southern Nevada. Warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours and his own internal clock are factors known to contribute to his emergence every year.
The recent extreme fluctuation in temperatures, rain and wind contributed to Mojave Max’s late emergence this year. He was sharing a burrow with three other tortoises who entered brumation after he did.
Emergence contest
As part of the annual Mojave Max Emergence Contest, elementary school students from Clark County have been studying Mojave Desert weather, temperatures and conditions to estimate when Mojave Max would emerge from his burrow in 2026.
The entries are being reviewed, and the official winner of the Mojave Max Emergence Contest will be announced soon.
The winning student will receive prizes including a year-long family membership to the Springs Preserve, an “America the Beautiful” year-long family pass to National Parks and Federal Recreation areas, and a laptop computer. The winner’s entire class will receive Olympic-style medals and T-shirts as well as a trophy for his or her school, and a celebration with a pizza party and the chance to meet the real Mojave Max. The winning student’s teacher will also receive a laptop computer.
“For the second year in a row, Mojave Max set a new emergence record,” said Marci Henson, director of the Clark County Department of Environment and Sustainability. “Throughout the ’25-’26 school year, the Mojave Max team delivered our message of Respect, Protect, and Enjoy our desert to over 10,000 students throughout Clark County schools and the homeschool community. We are looking forward to reaching even more students and community members as the program continues to evolve.”
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