Why are young Western fence lizards not afraid of people? / myLot

Walnut Creek, California

October 1, 2015 9:57pm CST

I know I posted about this on that other site, but I still think it's kind of cool. While out hiking with a kid client about a month ago, I found this Western fence lizard crawling on a bench we were sitting on. I put my hand in front of him, tapped behind him, and he hopped on my hand. He then spread out, as if to savor the warmth of my hand. After I'd had my fun, and even walked around with the lizard on my hand, I let him go (evicted him, really), and then my kid client did the same thing with him. Strangely, though, older fence lizards won't let you share your warmth with them. Once they're about 3" long, they'll freeze, look at you, and then scurry off if you approach them. I have no idea why.

8 people like this

5 responses

Cahaya

@cahaya1983 (11116)

• Malaysia

2 Oct 15

I'm one of those people who can't bear the thought of putting any kind of lizard on my hand.

The light brown geckos are pretty common here though.

2 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Oct 15

These little guys are always scurrying about when you go hiking here. I think they're pretty benign.

2 people like this

Anna

@LadyDuck (502886)

• Italy

2 Oct 15

I have never been able to share the warmth of my hand with a lizard. Our green lizards are scared of people.

2 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Oct 15

I only discovered this year that the little ones aren't afraid of people. The older ones are.

2 people like this

mommaj

@mommaj (23112)

• United States

17 Jan 16

That's kind of interesting that it let's you hold it, especially for a long period of time. They look like what we call geckos. Sometimes they run so fast that they get in your house. It is so hard to catch the little things without killing them.

Judy Story

@jstory07 (148790)

• Roseburg, Oregon

6 Oct 15

They are not afraid of us yet and when they get older they learn to be afraid of us.

lizard

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39503)

• United States

2 Oct 15

perhaps the elder one's 've figured out that most humans're most unkind whilst the lil fella's 're oblivious to such?

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The Horse

@TheHorse (238388)

• Walnut Creek, California

6 Oct 15

I've never known anyone to be "mean" to a Western fence lizard. Some do like to "catch and release," though. Maybe once you've been "caught" (inside cupped hands) your human-loving days are done.

1 person likes this