CREATURE FEATURE: Western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)
Last creature feature, we were acquainted with our native ‘blue jay,’ the California scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica). This time, we’re trading feathers for scales. Known to many as ‘blue-bellies,’ the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is a critter most of us are likely familiar with from time spent at any of our preserves—or really, anywhere in California and our neighboring states. They’re a jack-of-all-trades, found from sea level to dizzying heights above 10,000 feet! Western fence lizards inhabit a variety of habitats, from woodlands, forests, and grasslands to suburban gardens and farmlands. In these varied settings, they play an important role in nutrient cycling, pest management, and disease control.
Hike in any one of our preserves, and you might notice an unwanted hitchhiker crawling up your pant leg or latched onto your furry trail companion. Ticks are tiny arachnids that act as transmission vectors—particularly those within the genus Ixodes, which are known to carry Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. It’s important to note that Ixodes ticks do not inherently carry this bacterium; rather, they become infected after feeding on an already infected animal. This is where our scaly superhero comes into focus. Flowing through the veins of our fence-loving squamate is a protein that, when ingested by a tick, eradicates the bacteria—effectively curing the tick of infection. Over time, these lizards help reduce the incidence of Lyme disease and, in the process, support the health of the Ojai Valley’s ecosystems. However, they can only do so much. Ticks can transmit other diseases that lizards can’t mitigate, so do yourself a favor and be field-savvy: always perform a tick check!
Lastly, our friendly neighborhood fence lizard also dabbles in a behavior known as ‘tail autotomy.’ When stressed and faced with danger, western fence lizards will break off a piece of their tail. Though not fatal, the tail does grow back—usually shorter and weaker than before. The amputated segment serves as a distraction to would-be predators (and curious humans) due to its wiggling, caused by the twitching of nerves, giving the lizard a window of opportunity to escape.
While a clever survival strategy, the ordeal can be quite taxing for our Lyme disease-fighting heroes, so we kindly ask you to refrain from scaring their tails off. With that said, whether they’re basking on rocks on warm sunny days, scampering up fence posts, or doing push-ups to assert themselves, give thanks and be considerate to our blue-bellied neighbors.
Anthony Gomez, Restoration Field Crew