The desert gopher tortoise is a large, slow-moving terrestrial tortoise and therefore does not like watering. Desert gopher tortoises live in dry desert areas, which are different from the depths of deserts. Desert gopher tortoises live on the edge of deserts. They have abundant food resources and the environment is not so harsh. They are ideal for survival and avoiding natural enemies. However, the breeding of the desert gopher tortoise is difficult, so the number of this tortoise has been small.

Desert gopher tortoise inhabits cacti and Dry environments for thorny plants. A long hole up to 10 meters deep can be dug to become its hiding place. Herbivorous, feeding on native grasses, flowers, cacti and beans. Non-native plant, rarely eaten.