GARDEN BUDDY: SCELOPORUS occidentalis

When I see these little WESTERN FENCE LIZARDS  (4-7.5 in/10-19cm)
in my yard, & when walking the dogs, my first thought, is that means 
the rattlesnakes are active, also.  That is, until I saw this guy on our patio, straddling the shade.  Then,  I thought of him as a photo-op, & a creature worthy of learning about.  Usually I see Angus chasing them, but this time
this one lingered in the sun, long enough for me to take a few photos.

Also called BLUE BELLY, this lizard is native to California, but can be found
from Northern Mexico, all the way north to Washington, up to 10,000 ft.
It is considered to be a beneficial garden resident because it eats crickets, cockroaches, ants & mosquitoes.  The dreaded Lyme Disease is less
often found in ares where these lizards live.  The reason is:  when ticks, carrying the disease feed on the lizard's blood, a protein in the blood kills the bacteria in the tick that causes the disease.  If the tick survives, it no longer carries the disease that is devastating to human victims. 

The WESTERN FENCE LIZARD hibernatSe in the winter, then begins to breed around this time, by laying 8-17 eggs that hatch in August.  They usually live about a year, but as much as 5 years.  

This lizard is thought to bring good luck.  It has become a symbol of good vision & protection against the unseen things in life.  There is much to admire & appreciate about this small member of the reptile family.

As the days get hotter, I will watch  & welcome this Garden Buddy.