Specific intent crimes typically require that the defendant intentionally commit an act and intend to cause a particular result when committing that act. (U.S. v. Blair, 54 F.3d 639 (10th Cir. 1995).) In that regard, merely knowing that a result is likely isnât the same as specifically intending to bring it about.
Threats to the Desert Tortoise. T he desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is found in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts in North America. It is listed as threatened under the United States federal Endangered Species Act and is considered vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
When this range is exceeded, the animal dies. For four or five months of the year, the daily temperatures in the desert may actually exceed this range, called the range of thermoneutrality. Combined with the scarcity of life-sustaining water, survival for desert animals can become extremely tenuous. Fortunately, most desert animals have evolved both behavioral and physiological mechanisms to solve the heat and water problems the desert environment creates.