Back Porch Lizard Pal
Texas spiny lizards exert a calming influence
With my newfound understanding of the value of insects, gained from the Doug Tallamy book, I welcomed the increased insect population in my wilder yard. It wasn't overwhelming, with a bug at every turn, but there were more. What I didn't expect was the influx of predators those insects would bring. Birds, of course, but also lots of lizards.
[Picture: Texas spiny lizard on stump. Don’t see it? Hint: the head is to the right.]
One little lizard would sit on my back porch and sun itself. It looked like a miniature alligator. With its cocked head, it almost seemed friendly and didn't run from me. I ended up having rather one way conversations with it. This was Covid time, I lived alone, and some company is better than none. The lizard was a nice calming presence in the back.
It turned out to be a Texas spiny lizard. The spines aren't very noticeable, not like big spikes. They just give the skin a rough appearance in contrast to the sleek, smooth anoles. Apparently the males do those little lizard push-ups to establish territory, but I've never seen it. The one on my porch was probably a female.
Texas spiny lizards blend into tree bark with amazing success. And in a yard like mine with plenty of food, they reproduce quite quickly. I once saw a small one by the fence and watched it catch a little moth. That's the challenge of nature - I like the moth and I like the lizard, but the lizard's got to eat.
A neighbor told me a tale of spiny lizard determination and survival. She noticed one of these guys literally hanging out every day on a screen door. One day the lizard was missing its tail, yet it was still at its usual post on the screen. Later, putting out food for the feral cat she fed, she found a lizard tail by the bowl. Despite losing its tail, the lizard would not give up its daily vigil on the screen door. Maybe it just learned to be more careful on the ground.
Texas spiny lizards are a wonderful addition to the little ecosystem of my yard. Things stay in balance, with the lizards eating the bugs so they don't overpopulate. They make calm little companions and then blend into the trees.
