The western fence lizard is also known as a blue-belly because of the brightly colored scales under its throat and at the outer edges of the underbelly. It is a fossorial (burrowing) poikilotherm (an animal that regulates body temperature by sun basking or dirt burrowing). In females and youngsters, the blue markings are faint or not there at all. Characteristics … Read More
Deer Tick, a Questing Bloodsucker
In California, the Western gray squirrel is known to harbor the bacterium –Borrelia burgdorferi– that causes Lyme Disease. Ticks pick this up during their first or second blood meal. Lizards – Western Lyme Heros While in the larva or nymph stage, ticks frequently find lizard hosts. A protein in lizard blood kills the Lyme disease causing bacteria. Lizards … Read More
