The Mojave Max team announced the winner of the first-ever Countywide Mojave Max Emergence Contest at Springs Preserve.
To celebrate 25 years of the Mojave Max Emergence Contest, the Clark County Desert Conservation Program hosted a countywide contest for the first time in the Mojave Max Education Program’s history. For the last 25 years, the contest has only been open to elementary school students in Clark County. This year, in addition to the elementary school contest, all Clark County residents were invited to enter a guess as to when Mojave Max would emerge from brumation (the reptilian form of hibernation). Over 1,500 residents entered a guess.
The Mojave Max team, including the Mojave Max mascot, and Princess Moana from Las Vegas Character Parties, were at Springs Preserve yesterday, Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. to announce the winner. Last week the Mojave Max team was at Elaine Wynn E.S. to announce the student winner of the elementary school Mojave Max Emergence Contest.
The countywide Mojave Max Emergence Contest Winner is the Soranaka family. The Soranaka family heard about the contest from a presentation done by the Mojave Max team for their homeschool group in the Inspirada community. They entered one guess for the entire family: May 8, 2025 at 12:33 p.m. Mojave Max’s actual emergence was May 8, 2025 at 2:09 p.m. The family was presented with prizes from Las Vegas Character Parties, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Springs Preserve, and the Clark County Desert Conservation Program.
Family members:
- Jeffrey
- Amber
- Paige (16)
- Parker (12)
- Paxten (9)
- Paetyn (5)
Prizes:
- 1-hour character visit from Las Vegas Character Parties
- 1-year Premium Family membership from Springs Preserve
- Exclusive behind-the-scenes tour at Springs Preserve
- Family pack of tickets to visit Las Vegas Natural History Museum
- The Venetian Resort Las Vegas gift bag including a variety of items for the whole family
- Personalized Mojave Max gift bags and a variety of Mojave Max items for the whole family
Mojave Max, the official mascot of the Clark County Desert Conservation Program, is a live desert tortoise that calls the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas his home. Like other Southern Nevada reptiles, he enters a burrow to brumate (the reptilian form of hibernation) every winter and emerges every spring. For 25 years, Mojave Max’s emergence has marked the beginning of consistent spring-like weather in Clark County.
Questions about the Mojave Max education program and the Clark County Desert Conservation Program should be directed to Audrie Locke at (725) 270-4286. More information is available at www.ClarkCountyNV.gov or www.MojaveMax.com.
Questions about the live Mojave Max tortoise should be directed to Tom Bradley with the Las Vegas Springs Preserve at 702-822-8365.
About the Department of Environment and Sustainability
The Department of Environment and Sustainability is the air pollution control agency, regional Endangered Species Act compliance program, and sustainability office for all of Clark County, Nevada. Established as the Department of Air Quality by the Clark County Commission in 2001, it was renamed in 2020 and is comprised of two divisions: Air Quality and Desert Conservation Program. Through these two divisions, DES is ensuring the air we share meets healthful, regulatory standards, administering the County's Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan and addressing climate change through the All-In Clark County initiative.
About Clark County
Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect, and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 11th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to 2.3 million citizens and 45.6 million visitors a year (2019). Included are the nation’s 8th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The County also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to 1 million residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.