How Do YOU Spell Cute?! B-A-B-Y B-L-U-E B-E-L-L-Y!

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The other day, Steve was outside and opened the door to call to me, "JANET! I HAVE A FRIEND TO SHOW YOU! BRING YOUR CAMERA!!" I bounced out the door, quick as a flash and he directed me to a cement block wall over by our shop. Sitting on top was this darling little buddy, who was very cold on this rainy day and trying to warm up. You may not know this, but many animals, including lizards, require the warmth of the sun for energy to move around. This tiny tyke might have been a statue, he was so still. If he were warm, I wouldn't get this picture--they are fast little devils!! I was able to take all the pictures I wanted, and the whole time he turned his head to stare at me with a most unimpressed expression on his face! :D I couldn't help but coo at him while I took pictures, what a cutie pie!! :D

I've always known these as Blue Belly Lizards, but their official name is "Western Fence Lizard." They are very common in California but are also found in neighboring states. As you can see, they get their nickname from the gorgeous, irridescent blue scales adorning their undersides, and juveniles have aquamarine-colored bellies, as you can see here! :) Adults have bodies about 3-4" long, with their tails adding another 3-4". They are non-aggressive, fast-moving, and eat spiders and insects. Did you know that Lyme disease is lower in areas where there are lizards??! Ticks feed on the lizards, and a protein in the lizard's blood kills the Lyme disease bacterium, which cleanses the tick's blood and they no longer carry it!! YAY LIZARDS!!!

If you would like to know more about Western Fence Lizards, Wiki has a page here: Wiki: Western Fence Lizard (Blue Belly Lizard)