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).
The Desert Ecosystem. A desert ecosystem may seem devoid of life but even the most arid sand dune has a desert unique to its location and climate. Even the sparsest dune has some form of life existing in its hostile environment. A desert environment must exist where there is little rainfall and the climate is extreme in harshness. With little precipitation a desert will at first impression appear to be lifeless and barren. In reality this is rarely the case. The desert supports life forms as varied as any ecosystem on earth.