Western Fence Lizard

If you ever seen a brown or black lizard with dark stripes down its back darting around your home, you're probably already familiar with the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis). These lizards are ubiquitous across the San Francisco Bay Area, as California is located at the heart of their range. Adults have a distinctive blue throat and abdomen and can grow up to 8 inches in length. Western fence lizards occupy a variety of habitats such as grasslands, woodlands, and coniferous forests at elevations from sea level to 11,000 ft, and are found in the meadows surrounding Sausal Creek.