My strange lizard exerience from this week
By The Horse
@TheHorse (218595)
Walnut Creek, California
September 1, 2016 1:38pm CST
We have Western Fence Lizards everywhere around here. They max out at about 7" long, are completely harmless, and tend to scurry away from humans.
But my kid clients and I have discovered that some of the very young ones (maybe 2 1/2" long) don't seem to fear humans that much. Put a hand in front of them, tap behind them, and they will jump on your hand and stay there to enjoy the warmth.
The other day at Ground Squirrel Gardens, I was watering our biggest squash plant, when a small Western Fence Lizard scurried out from under the plant, as often happens.
But this one had several drops of water beaded up on his back. I had accidentally watered him! I put my hand in front of him and tapped behind him. He didn't move. I nudged his side. He didn't move.
"Oh no, are you injured somehow?" I asked him. Then I picked him up, and started to put him on the back of my hand, so I could see if he was OK. Only then did he scurry off, in typical Western Fence Lizard fashion.
Did I somehow hypnotize this little lizard by accidentally watering him? I have no idea. Next time I accidentally water a Western Fence Lizard, I'll have to try and "catch" him and see if the same thing happens.
Any thoughts?
23 people like this
26 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
1 Sep 16
Amazed the little skitter went on the hand as lizards tend to be skittish.
5 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7084)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
1 Sep 16
Are they really called Western Fence Lizards? I used to have little red lizards in front of an apartment I was living in, they seemed to like the rocks in front and the Cat Piss Juniper shrubs. I have no clue what those little lizards were. Yours sound more friendly.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
2 Sep 16
I can't find any information that suggests you did the baby lizard any harm by "watering" him, pony... As a matter of fact, Blue Belly Fence Lizards like to swim, so I can't see how getting water on him would have caused that behavior, anyway...
(shrug!)
He's a cute little feller, though!
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100257)
• India
30 Sep 16
@DaddyEvil @TheHorse...it is guy talk then...smh...you both will never grow up...smh...
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
3 Sep 16
@TheHorse LOL! If you figure out what caused him to freeze like that, let all of us in on the secret, please!? I wouldn't mind catching a young lizard and keeping him... they do make good little pets, you know.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Sep 16
that reminds me of the little green luizard we had as a pet in our Tustin''Library'we'
were all usd to lizzy bu t one da y I was putting the papers and magqazines'away in'
the readin area, this middle aged man was reading the daily paper, He let out a'
scream and yelled"get this thiing off me help help Its a monster': Lizzy had crawed up the mans loose shirt and was shaking.I p;icke her up and by now the manager was on'the scene I had to take Lizzie outside and say good bye old friend,.the man evern threatened to sue the library but the tiny lizard had not hurt him really
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16759)
• China
2 Sep 16
Western Fence Lizard seems to a native of where you live.Here there are only house lizards.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16759)
• China
3 Sep 16
@TheHorse They just show up in summer crawling on the wall and eating mosquitoes ,so we don't have an aversion to them that much .
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
2 Sep 16
soothing shower? made him nappy maybe, lol
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
2 Sep 16
what a cutie :) i've no answer to if'n gettin' watered caused such behavior? most oft when i water critters by oops, they're purty ticked off'n lemme know 't, lol.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
2 Sep 16
@TheHorse i've watered hummers, prayin' mantis, bees...e'en the cat when she's been where i couldn't see her, lol. the toads here dislike gettin' hit with the cold water 's well.
@RasmaSandra (79750)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Sep 16
Never met one of these lizards @TheHorse but he is real cute. I really like salamanders too.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218595)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Sep 16
Salamanders are cool too. But they are slimy and require a lot of moisture around them. Some also have toxic skin, though it's harmless to humans unless you handle them while you have an open cut on your hand. At least that's what I read.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
1 Sep 16
Maybe a good reason to have a pistol (water type) on hand.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
2 Sep 16
@TheHorse That calls for an experiment, but i never see a lizard here.
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Sep 16
Not sure @TheHorse . Could be. I've got some absolutely gorgeous, lime-green lizards here at my place and they're pretty friendly.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
2 Sep 16
@TheHorse They are called the Green Anole and are indigenous to the southern US.
@Bluerain25 (812)
• Philippines
2 Sep 16
I have several of that kind in the house LOL and my 1 yr old would call my attention and point me at them. I do not know what he wants but he would say 'aard' several times at tried to bounce up and down. One time a lizard fell on the floor he hurriedly run towards it. unfortunately the lizard is much faster than him.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50213)
• United States
1 Sep 16
He looks like a miniature alligator.
1 person likes this
@BenRyanLee (224)
•
2 Sep 16
Maybe it went on temporary shut down (or shut out) when you got it wet. It happens to me too when I take a bath. I only manage to snap out of my daydream after a minute or so.
1 person likes this
