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Congratulations Ryan Cicchitti,
for winning the 2006 Mojave Max Emergence Contest.
  Ryan with Mojave Max, Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald and his teacher, Kim Underwood
Mojave Max is a live desert tortoise residing at the Red Rock National Conservation Area. Like other Mojave Desert desert tortoises, he enters a burrow to brumate (the reptilian form of hibernation) every winter and emerges every spring. Warmer temperatures, longer daylight hours, and an internal clock are factors known to contribute to his emergence every year. Mojave Max's habitat area received 4.18 inches of rain so far this year.
Students across Clark County have been anxiously awaiting Mojave Max’s 2006 emergence and the announcement of this year’s contest winner. Mojave Max officially emerged on April 3 at 11:32 a.m. The unusually cool spring temperatures contributed to Mojave Max’s latest emergence on record.
Mojave Max's emergence marks the beginning of spring weather in Southern Nevada . While the weather forecasts for the next week contain predictions of rain, according to Mojave Max, residents of the Las Vegas area will soon be enjoying sunshine and warm weather.
As part of the annual Mojave Max Emergence Contest, students study Mojave Desert weather, temperatures, and conditions to scientifically estimate when they believed Mojave Max will first emerge from his burrow . They enter their guesses on line at www.mojavemax.com. The entries are tabulated and the official winner will be announced. The winning student will receive a variety of prizes including a Golden Eagle Park Pass and a Playstation 2. The winner's entire class will receive a field trip to Mojave Max's habitat, Mojave Max Olympic style medals, t-shirts, and passes to a theme park.
"Now that Mojave Max has come out of his burrow, spring is officially here," said Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, who declared it Mojave Max Day countywide. "Everyone's favorite tortoise is a great ambassador of the desert, helping our local school children understand our environment and how it works."
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