Taken 9-28-2025

Eastern Fence Lizard:

In Ken Caryl Valley, these little, spiny guys love to sun themselves on the warmed, red rocks in the morning. Eastern Fence Lizards are found all over the United States, in all sorts of different habitats. In general, females (like the one pictured above) have black, horizontal patterns of stripes down their backs, while males are brown and have little blotches of blue scales under their chins and bellies.

Fence lizards are a delicacy to birds of prey and smaller, four-legged predators. They're small enough to carry, but are also very meaty for their size. 

When threatened, Eastern Fence Lizards will retreat into rock crevasses or into the centers of spiky yucca plants. If they can't get away, they will detach their tails and skitter away as far as they can. After awhile (assuming they survive), their tails will regrow. 

Reference:

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Reptiles/Eastern-Fence-Lizard