Western Fence Lizard

A Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) is a common lizard found throughout western North America. They are often called blue-bellies due to the bright blue patches on the underside of the males.

Western Fence Lizards are typically gray or brown with spiny, overlapping scales that give them a rough texture. Males are generally larger than females and are easily identified by the prominent blue patches on their throat and belly, which they display during courtship and territorial disputes. Juveniles are more lightly colored and lack the vibrant blue patches.

These lizards are found in a wide range of habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, chaparral, and deserts. As their name suggests, they are often seen on fences, rocks, logs, or walls, where they can bask in the sun.

Their diet consists mainly of insects, including grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, and ants. They are active during the day and are quick to dart into crevices or climb trees to escape predators.

The Western Fence Lizard is known to play an important role in Lyme disease prevention. Researchers have found that ticks carrying the Lyme disease bacteria are less likely to transmit the disease after feeding on the lizard's blood. The lizard's blood contains a protein that kills the bacteria, effectively clearing the ticks of the infection.