This is the second rattlesnake in my yard in a few weeks, plus the one I relocated from my neighbor's yard. I've never seen one in my yard before though I've seen a couple on this block relatively close.

What I'm guessing is that this is actually a normal number of rattlesnakes, but I am seeing them now because I'm usually not here in early May, plus we had that bizarre heat wave in late March, which probably woke all the snakes up and brought them out of hibernation early. This is also probably why it feels like there are far more lizards than I've ever seen here before. I usually have to leave by late April and it's usually not this hot yet.

The fact that we had an extremely dry winter and there's virtually no annual vegetation growing anywhere probably also contributes. No plants means no flowers which means no seeds which means no food for rodents, so I'm guessing that snakes probably have to wander much further to try to find a meal.

#Rattlesnake #HerpReport #LizardReport #snek

This afternoon I was planting some cactus in the front yard and I saw the big gopher snake again, slithering along the wall…

"Gopher snake"... um... then I saw the black and white striped tail and the rattles as it emerged from behind a cactus. Another western diamondback rattlesnake!

I got my camera with the telephone lens and got a bunch of close-ups, then went back to get my snake stick and a bucket. Unfortunately the critter was behind a very spiny hedgehog cactus and pulling it out would have potentially hurt it, so I let it get away into the rock pile.

I continued about my work, and then saw it a little while later over under the pomegranate tree. Then a few minutes later I didn't see it. It's out there somewhere 🤷‍♂️

Given that I don't have to get under the house to do any work anytime soon, I'm not gonna worry about it.

I'll just think of it like inspector Clouseau's manservant Cato, there to keep me on my toes.

#LizardReport #Rattlesnake #snek #HerpReport #NoStepOnSnek

The tiger whiptail seems to live in the scrap lumber pile by the back door and doesn't seem to get up till sometime after noon. If I go out and whistle for it, it'll come up to be fed. It is amazingly comfortable sitting in my hand.

#LizardReport #Lizard #HerpReport

While I was sitting on the low wall feeding the light colored iguana, the other one heard me whistling, which I do all the time while feeding them to reinforce the connection, and came across the yard. I held a mealworm up at the edge of the wall and tried to get its attention, but it just kept nipping at my toes instead.

The spiny lizards, like Bill and Cutie, regularly nip at my fingers and toes if I run out of worms, but this is the first time an iguana has done it.

#LizardReport #Lizard #Iguana #HerpReport

The zebra tailed lizard is being very skittish this year. It'll take worms if I throw them a couple feet away but I haven't got it to eat out of my hand yet like last year. The short little video shows it waving it's distinctly zebra striped tail, indicating that it is feeling uncomfortable and sees me as a potential threat.

To a potential predator, the tail is a big flashy distraction that will break off easily if something were to bite it. When the lizards are comfortable, they will keep their tail down so that they blend into their surroundings better.

#LizardReport #Lizard #HerpReport

A few minutes ago, I met a new iguana in the backyard, hanging out in the scrap wood pile. It was a little shy, but came within 2 feet to eat mealworms.

While I was sitting there, letting it get used to me, I asked its name. And that's when it occurred to me:

Lizards are desert fairies.

Shy, diminutive, mysterious creatures that come and go on their own agenda, willing to be friends if you can build their trust, but always a little leery of us. They often appear as if out of the blue and then disappear in an instant like magic. They can be nearly invisible until you learn how to see them. Not everyone can.

#LizardReport #Lizards #DesertFairies