I never imagined that closing dumpsters could help save an endangered species, but that’s exactly what I learned during my time at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. What started as a volunteer position turned into a mission to protect one of our most vulnerable desert residents, the Mojave Desert tortoise.
The story that changed my perspective began with this alarming statistic: ravens are responsible for about 44% of annual desert tortoise deaths. These intelligent birds have experienced an 800% population boom in the western Mojave Desert over the past 50 years, largely due to something entirely preventable, human trash. As I learned more about this crisis, I knew I had to take action but at the time I didn’t know how until I learned more about community-based conservation efforts in the Coachella Valley.
That’s how I became involved with The Living Desert’s innovative “Time to Talk Trash” campaign. Under the guidance of Dr. James Danoff-Burg, the vice president of conservation, I learned that, “Species aren’t declining because they forgot how to survive; they’re declining because of human activity and our choices.” This meant that we, as humans, needed to be part of the solution and this is a lesson that I wanted to share with members of the high desert community.
Working alongside conservation scientist Katie Shaw, I was trained in a social science initiative for communicating about how we can better protect the state reptile. I helped by connecting with local food businesses throughout the Coachella Valley to share methods in reducing our pollution in the desert environment. I learned how to communicate effectively with business owners about the importance of keeping dumpsters closed and managing trash properly to prevent ravens from thriving at the expense of tortoise hatchlings.
Each conversation I had with a business owner felt like a small win in advocating for stronger community conservation action. I was happy when I saw local restaurants earn their Gold Star Awards for maintaining closed dumpsters, knowing that each secured lid meant a better chance of survival for young tortoises. It wasn’t always easy, convincing people to change their daily habits rarely is, but with the desert tortoise on the decline the TLD campaign effort felt more important than ever.
What makes this work so meaningful is that it’s a community effort. Through the “Time to Talk Trash” campaign, I discovered that conservation isn’t just about working directly with animals, it’s about bringing people together to solve environmental challenges. Every closed dumpster, every piece of trash properly disposed of, represents a small but significant victory in protecting our desert ecosystem.
My experience with The Living Desert taught me that anyone can be a conservation hero, whether you’re a business owner making sure your dumpster is secure, a resident being mindful of your trash, or a young person like me passionate about making a difference. It’s about understanding that our daily actions have ripple effects throughout the entire desert ecosystem.
This journey has shown me that conservation success stories don’t always look like what we expect. Sometimes they look like closed dumpster lids, reduced litter and communities coming together to protect the remarkable creatures that share our desert home. Through this experience, I’ve not only helped protect the desert tortoise but also discovered my own path in conservation, one that combines science, community engagement, and the power of individual action to make a real difference in our world.
Most importantly, I learned that when we take responsibility for our impact on the environment, we can make a difference in fighting species extinction. The desert tortoise’s story isn’t over yet, and thanks to initiatives like “Time to Talk Trash,” we’re writing new chapters of hope every day.
Natalie Jane Cibel is a passionate wildlife biologist and science communicator on a mission to bridge the gap between wildlife conservation and the public. An independent biologist, her clients range from the coast to the desert of Southern California. Currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Conservation Biology through Miami University, Natalie utilizes her academic background in wildlife biology to guide her efforts in science communication by spreading awareness for endangered animals overlooked in southern California and beyond. Her email is nataliecibel@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Finding my purpose: Saving Desert Tortoises one dumpster at a time