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I used three innovative, nondestructive field methods (gas dilution, doubly labeled water and radiography) to measure individual energy and water budgets of wild, female desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii). With these budgets, I evaluated whether body reserves help females produce eggs independent of rainfall and food availability. Female desert tortoises used large seasonal and annual changes in metabolism and body water, protein and energy reserves to survive and produce eggs. Although lipid reserves are important to female desert tortoises, nitrogen or crude protein appears to be the primary limiting resource for producing eggs. By reducing metabolic rates 90%, females conserved enough body reserves to produce eggs during extreme drought conditions; this is an effective bet-hedging reproductive pattern in an extreme and unpredictable environment.