For 4-6 months (almost half the year), desert tortoises, like some other tortoises, hibernate to wait out the colder months of the year. During this time, tortoises slow down their metabolism and physical processes to conserve energy and reduce their need for more food and water. In fact, according to the Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital, people caring for desert tortoises need to be careful not to overfeed tortoises before they enter hibernation mode because it will not be digested in time and has the possibility of rotting in the tortoises stomach!

The desert tortoise is signaled to hibernate based on the temperature. Once temperatures go between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the tortoise knows it is the season to hibernate. Since temperatures influence the desert tortoise's hibernation, changes in the temperatures from year to year affect the length at which the desert tortoise is actually hibernating.