Along the trails at Deschutes Land Trust Preserves, it is likely that the most commonly seen reptile is the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis). This 4 to 7 inch long animal’s upper sides are dull grayish-brown to nearly black, with some dark, squiggly blotches. The muted earth colors blend well with the surrounding semi-arid environment and could be considered rather “blah.” However, the flip-side of this critter is contrastingly different. The abdomen and throat have beautiful patches of gaudy blue (less vivid on females). These colorfully shiny scales make them appear to be adorned with turquoise jewelry. There’s also a tinge of orangish-yellow under the front and rear legs. Males are especially conspicuous because they perform territorial displays of bobbing up and down, along with tilting sideways to show their bright blue bellies.  

 

The entire body of the fence lizard has a prickly appearance due to its relatively large, pointed scales. When chased by a predator, it retreats into a crevice and inflates itself, becoming tightly jammed like a spiky pine cone. No doubt, countless hungry coyotes have become frustrated while attempting to dislodge their desired reptilian meal! An excellent climber, it also sometimes escapes up a tree, then nimbly avoids a pursuer by going around and around the trunk, staying out of sight on the opposite side. 

 

In Central Oregon, this species occurs at elevations below 5,000 to 6,000 feet, inhabiting dry, brushy areas and sparse, sun-bathed sections of juniper/pine woodlands. They can be observed basking on rocks, logs, stumps, and wooden fence posts--hence, the common name.  

 

Land Trust Preserves also harbor the smaller, 3 to 5 inch, closely-related Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus), which generally prefers sandy openings between shrubs. However, it also occasionally suns on rocks, causing identification confusion because it’s quite similar to a young fence lizard. Sagebrush lizards can be differentiated by their much less prickly scales, which impart only a slightly rough texture. Unlike the fence lizard’s pattern of blotches on the back, the sagebrush lizard has lengthwise, alternating dark-brown and pale-tan stripes. Below, compared to fence lizards, males have less intense blue patches. Female sagebrush lizards totally lack blue, having a white belly and throat. There’s a rusty-orange hue on the sides of the body and neck that intensifies in females during the spring breeding season.

  

Both species have much the same dietary preferences. Insects and spiders are primarily eaten, but occasionally they vary things by snacking on dinky scorpions. Likewise, these two members of the genus Sceloporus reproduce similarly, being egg-layers (oviparous). During early summer, pregnant females seek out a sun-warmed section of soil or crumbly, rotting log to dig a shallow hole and deposit several leathery-shelled little eggs. Mother lizard then merely refills the depression and leaves it to solar-incubate, providing no maternal care. Later in August and early September, the tiny lizards hatch and dig their way out, ready to fend for themselves.    

 

Read more by Al St. John:

• The Great Basin Spadefoot
• Little Boa of the Northwest Woods
• How Dangerous are Rattlesnakes?

 

A native Oregonian, Alan D. St. John lives in sage-scented juniper woodlands near Bend with his wife, Jan. Al is a freelance interpretive naturalist who uses writing, photography, and drawings to teach about the natural world. Specializing in herpetology, he has worked as a reptile keeper at Portland's zoological park, and conducted extensive reptile and amphibian field surveys for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, USDA Forest Service, the U. S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. Along with authoring the books, Reptiles of the Northwest and Oregon's Dry Side: Exploring East of the Cascade Crest, his work has appeared in National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Ranger Rick, Natural History, Country, Nature Conservancy, The New York Times, and other periodicals.