Now that the weather is warming up, these cute little guys are everywhere in the garden. Commonly called "Blue bellies" or "Fence runners," according to www.californiaherps.com, these should be Sceloporus occidentalis longipes, the Great Basin Fence Lizard. Interestingly, if the fence lizard is bitten by a tick, their body produces a protein that makes them immune to Lyme Disease. I think they must also be immune to "death by cat" by virtue of being an awful tasting animal, as our cat will catch these lizards, and play with them, but will not harm them and certainly never eat them. He eats all other prey, including mice, birds and roof rats. The one time we saw him eat a Fence runner, he promptly vomited, and has never eaten one since.
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