Spotted Salamander: A Metric for Success
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There are species at Harmony Hill that remind us exactly why we are conservationists at heart and give us immediate reminders that what we are doing is making a difference. When we set out to protect this little corner of the world, we didn’t have a roadmap to follow, and we didn’t have a plan to get to where we are today. In fact, we are still fluid in our approach and are continually learning from Mother Nature. Her lessons will keep us forever her students and, even though we do have an overall goal, our management plan is not a rigid document that is unwavering. Instead, we walk towards to a grand plan for Harmony Hill knowing our efforts may change to meet the needs of the land as the climate and the surrounding area alters, sometimes more quickly than expected.
As with any goal, we look for definable metrics to show us if what we are doing is having the positive impact we are hoping for. In a business setting, this might be seen in specific performance outcomes. Fortunately, our metrics are not quite as cumbersome or as stuffy as those found in a corporate corner office. Oh, we have measurable goals we work towards; but we tend to think of them as dynamic and exciting when we see them come into focus.
Take this week’s spotlight species as a perfect example. At first glance, some may see it as just another species to add to the list of things at Harmony Hill; another line on a spreadsheet of plants and animals. To the casual observer, this may be just some slimy critter that serves as fish food or a weird animal they’ve heard lives underground. But to us, this is proof what we’re working towards is actually working and it is an example to anyone who would like to preserve and protect the environment that starting at home truly makes a difference.
Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) are not rare amphibians; but they are, in many ways, a special amphibian. You know we love to cover as many topics as we can during our visits, and this will be no exception! Buckle up and get ready to learn about a salamander that connects many aspects of nature, science, and good stewardship.
Having a range that covers much of the eastern United States, portions of southeastern Canada and the Great Lakes region, even pushing westwards through the gulf states and into parts of Texas and Oklahoma, Spotted Salamanders are a pretty common salamander. But allow us to ask you this, “How often have you seen them in the wild and when was the last time you saw one?” We know professional naturalists who have gone years between sightings and have even spoke to some avid outdoors people who have never seen one at all. That’s because they are a secretive species that lives most of its adult life under the cover of logs, leaf litter, and even several inches of topsoil. This fossorial lifestyle means it isn’t a species you can count on encountering on just any walk in the woods.
The only times we’ve encountered them outside of research or population surveys has been in early spring, when adults move to breeding vernal pools, wetlands, and sheltered ponds. In our neck-of-the-woods, that spring breeding season may begin long before spring is even found on the calendar. There are years that rainfalls might be sufficient and temperatures warm enough to cause adult Spotted Salamanders to come out into the open and head to breeding waters in December. Then again, we may have to wait until February or March to experience the nights of migration in which these gorgeous amphibians walk to begin breeding.
In the southern part of their range, of which we are on the very southeastern portion, we can often see three rounds of breeding by adult Spotted Salamanders over the course of better than two months. Heading north, those numbers reduce significantly, with populations in Maine, Canada, and the Great Lakes regions seeing one or, potentially, two rounds of breeding occurring in just a week or so.
And the waters where they breed? Well, they overwhelmingly prefer pools of water with little to no pressure from predators. Ephemeral pools of water offer places to lay eggs and allow those eggs to develop into larval Spotted Salamanders without the worries of fish devouring the growing amphibians.
They can and do utilize places that replicate this habitat, including artificial ponds, fishless wetlands, and even flooded ditches. While they have been documented breeding in ponds that have carnivorous fish, for obvious reasons, those are not the most productive or preferred waters. At Harmony Hill, we are fortunate to have bottomland wooded areas that see flooding, but are void of fish. We have been fortunate the last few years to have experienced flooding, and that has been good for numerous species, like the Spotted Salamander. We also have a pond that has very limited numbers of fish to consume amphibians that lay egg masses in its waters.
Eggs usually take between three and six weeks here to develop into larval Spotted Salamanders. As eggs, something unique and quite rare occurs in developing Spotted Salamanders. A relationship with a single-celled algae, Oophila ablystomatis, happens with each egg. Whether this relationship is truly mutualistic is not at all clear. Instead of absolutely mutualistic, this relationship seems to favor the developing salamander eggs.
Usually, the algae are inside the eggs when they are laid; passed down from the adult female. The immune systems of the developing eggs are even set to have no response to the outside genetic material. Sometimes, the algae will occupy an area just outside the egg, but within the egg mass and close enough to benefit the eggs. But what is the purpose of the algae and egg relationship?
Simply put, the eggs benefit from the oxygen and energy (in the form of simple sugar) produced by photosynthesis in the algae cells and the algae cells benefit from the liquid nitrogen waste from the developing salamander eggs. Now, we all know it isn’t always as simple as it looks on paper. There have been studies which show the algae suffers a little more than it may benefit from growing along with the Spotted Salamander eggs. There are many occasions in which photosynthesis isn’t efficient enough to produce enough energy and oxygen for both the egg and the algae. In these circumstances, especially as the egg grows and its size and color reduce the ability for the algae to photosynthesize, the algae must turn to fermentation to supply itself with the energy to continue the relationship. As it continues to take advantage of the salamander waste and utilize the nitrogen, this relationship never really enters the realm of parasitism.
The larval stage lasts between two and three months, and it is a completely aquatic larval stage. As larva, these salamanders will eat just about anything they can fit into their mouths, which are usually aquatic invertebrates. However, they will readily eat tadpoles, small fish, and even other salamander larvae. To our great joy, larval Spotted Salamanders have been documented consuming great numbers of mosquito larvae, adding to our holistic pest control approach!
When they lose their gills, leave the water, and become adults, their diet continues to include just about anything that will fit into their mouths. While this primarily consists of things like earthworms and insects, they have been documented taking advantage of small frogs and even other, smaller salamanders. Several years ago, we were fortunate enough to see an adult Spotted Salamander eating a Ring-necked Snake.
As adults, they are unmistakable in appearance, with that dark body and two rows of yellow spots running down the length of their bodies. They may be black, dark charcoal grey, or even a deep blue or green; but, they all look very much the same. Being up to 8”-9” in length, they are larger than most any other salamander. 6”-7” is the usual length we encounter here.
They are subject to be prey to a long, long list of predators; with skunks, raccoons, opossums, snakes, frogs, toads, fish, and birds, just to name a few! This is where being fossorial comes as a big advantage in avoiding predation.
In another instance of being a scientific marvel of nature, Spotted Salamanders are capable of regenerating entire limbs, should a would-be predator take a leg or tail. As if that isn’t impressive enough, there have been recorded instances of Spotted Salamanders regrowing things much more vital than a new tail or even an entire leg! Spotted Salamanders have been known to regrow internal organs and even portions of their heads and brains! Their regenerative capabilities are being studied to potentially help humans who have suffered injury or even some birth defects.
At each stage of their lives, Spotted Salamanders rely on waters that are free of contaminates and habitats that are protected from everything from increased runoff to harmful chemicals. Seeing Spotted Salamanders at Harmony Hill means we are offering a buffer from development, overharvesting of trees in adjacent forests, and use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other chemicals in the area.
One of our goals is to be a refuge. We strive to provide clean and healthy habitats for plants and animals, as well as for us. Spotted Salamanders are one of those measurable metrics showing our efforts are working and our goals are being attained. Clean water, quality habitats, space for native plants and animals to flourish; all things we see in Spotted Salamanders at Harmony Hill.
Just as important as this is for us, it is also something we can show neighbors and anyone interested in protecting their own piece of nature. And it is something we can show you, our fellow naturalists. You don’t have to have a massive piece of property or deep pockets. Every acre counts and even small steps matter in the journey towards helping Mother Nature. That’s what we see when we observe Spotted Salamanders. Not simply a lovely dark salamander with yellow spots, but proof that we can make a difference; that we can be good stewards and take care of those without the voice to advocate for themselves.
It’s Not Easy Being Gray
Though autumn is here, let’s look back at just a few weeks ago, when the hot days of summer had taken hold and even the woods and fields which were normally filled with sound and motion got quiet and still.
The occasional bird song or cicada call echoed through the air and a grasshopper or butterfly might venture out on the wing to take short flights. Even our amphibian friends around the pond had grown more hushed in the heat of those sweltering days. Another frog, away from the pond, was heard and seen. Whether drowned out by its more vocal and conspicuous kin, this frog is easily overlooked. But not today and not as we take walk in the wood at Harmony Hill.
Away from the waters of the pond, we encounter treefrogs. The one species of treefrog (Family Hylidae) we have documented so far at Harmony Hill is the Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis). We’ve been hearing their trill vocalizations throughout the summer, echoing from upland pine forests to bottomland hardwoods. Quite often, we hear them call from their perches in trees during the lazy warm days, but they tend to do most of their singing once the day has begun to give way to evening time. To many, the call of this frog is often written off as background noise. And their cryptic colors and patterns mean they aren’t the most eye-catching frog at Harmony Hill. However, if you’ve joined us for even one walk in the wood, you know we don’t simply write anything off as background noise and we find beauty and fascination in all flora and fauna on this beautiful landscape.
Why don’t we begin by looking at the namesake of the Cope’s Gray Treefrog? Edward Drinker Cope (1840-1897) was an American naturalist from Philadelphia. Known for his knowledge and passion for everything from frogs and fish to fossils and physiology, Cope was mostly self-taught and looked for nearly any excuse to get outside to study nature. Driven by curiosity, Cope was keenly interested in paleontology. His demeaner, determination, and approaches were known to cause problems in his personality and character, even blinding him to the humanity and ability of others. It is for him that this mostly gray-colored and mottled tree frog is named.
The genus name of Hyla means “wood”, “forest” or “timber”. This is a clear reference to the members of this genus being found in trees. Chryso is the Greek word meaning “gold”, while kelis is the Greek word for “stain” or “a spot”. Combining those two words gives us the species name of chrysoscelis, referencing both the metallic sparkling found in the granular skin of the frog and the bright gold-orange coloration hidden on the inner thigh of the frog.
Cope’s Gray Treefrogs depend on their cryptic colors and pattern to provide extremely effective camouflage to hide from predators. Whether found perched on pine, holly, oak, or hickory trees, they blend in and look like little more than a bump or knot on the trunk or limb. If discovered; however, they will leap away at the last minute, displaying the flash of orange on the inside of their groin. This flash of color serves as a distraction to potential predators, causing a cautious pause and allowing the frog to escape.
Like other frogs, being an amphibian, Cope’s Gray Treefrogs are dependent upon water for reproduction. Males will find a pond or ephemeral wet area, one without fish whenever possible, and begin calling from somewhere high up in a tree. At Harmony Hill, there happens to be just such areas found in various habitats around the property. The two separate Cope’s shown in the photographs this week were found not too far from wet areas that have been drying in the recent weeks.
When the females arrive to investigate the singing, the males maneuver down the tree to the ground, where they mate. The females later lay their eggs in “packets” of between 30-40 eggs and attach them to vegetation in the pond or wet area. Hatch times and tadpole development times are entirely dependent upon water temperatures. Under most summertime conditions at Harmony Hill, the time from the egg hatch to tadpoles and, finally, metamorphosis to Cope’s Gray Treefrogs emerging from the water usually spans a timeframe of 45-60 days.
Cope’s Gray Treefrogs are physically identical to Gray Treefrogs (Hyla versacolor) and should never be identified by appearance alone. For many years, they were thought to be the same species, perhaps simply being two subspecies of the same species. Genetic research and DNA sampling proved them to be separate from one another.
But, if they look just alike and we don’t have DNA laboratories at Harmony Hill, how are we to distinguish them as Cope’s Gray Treefrogs or Gray Treefrogs? We have a wonderful tip for you!
The calls of the two frogs are quite different and provide a definitive way to identify the two species. The calls are also different enough that females of the two species do not tend to mate with a male of the other species. And if you’re wondering what that difference is, well the trill of the Cope’s is faster than the trill of the Eastern. If you ever have the chance to hear both species, the difference is pronounced enough that you can confidently tell them apart once you learn them. And, since you’re all our fellow naturalists, we believe in your identification abilities!
The genetic research we mentioned that led to the separation of the two species also led to the discovery that Cope’s Gray Treefrogs have diploid chromosomes, or two sets of chromosomes in each cell nuclei. Their relative, the Gray Treefrog, has tetraploid chromosomes, or four sets of chromosomes in each cell nuclei.
Before we part company this week, there’s one last cool fact about Cope’s Gray Treefrogs. They are capable of secreting a slightly toxic substance from their skin. While this toxin will not harm you directly if you handle a Cope’s Gray Treefrog, please be absolutely certain to wash your hands thoroughly after you handle this, or any, frog species. As a matter of fact, let’s make that a rule after handling any wild animal!
This toxic skin secretion from Cope’s Gray Treefrogs is known to irritate eyes, mouths, mucus lining of noses, and open wounds of mammals. Humans can be especially sensitive to the secretion and it is an effective deterrent to predation. To avoid forgetfully wiping your eyes or nose and having a potential reaction, be very careful and mindful while handling the frog and please wash your hands well immediately when done.
The Thespian of Harmony Hill: A Closer Look At the Eastern Hognose Snake
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Mornings often find us sitting in the golden glow of the sun, watching our bird feeders and the various species visiting for black oil sunflower seeds, white millet, and safflower seeds. Each species has their own behavior for choosing exactly which seed they want, even how they approach the feeders. Carolina Chickadees fly in, toss a few seeds around as they search for just the right sunflower seed, then quickly fly to a nearby tree to secretively peck away at their treasure. Blue Jays broadcast their presence from afar and swoop in like a massive bomber, scaring all other interested parties away. With the feeders rocking under the force of their deliberate landing, they continue to scream as they forage for whatever fits in their beaks.
Then, there are the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds buzzing around their nectar feeders. More often resembling gladiators looking to draw first blood than the aerial gemstones they sometimes seem to be, the maneuvers and acrobatics they demonstrate put any fighter jet to shame.
As elaborate and entertaining as these moments in the morning are, they pale in comparison to another animal’s behavior we’ve seen on walks at Harmony Hill. There is a resident here with behaviors that, evolved and instinctual as they are, appear to be little more than the histrionics and grandstandings of a comedic actor. A snake that is still fogged in superstition and misunderstanding in some parts of it range, but one we love seeing each time we encounter it.
The Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) is one of our nonvenomous and diurnal, or daytime, snakes here at Harmony Hill. Though they come in a variety of patterns and color morphs, their upturned noses make them unmistakable and easy to identify.
Most of the adults we observe here are a uniform black color, or melanistic, along the entire tops of their bodies. On rare occasions, we might see an adult with large, dark brown rectangles set against a lighter beige background. Juveniles here, on the other hand, are always patterned with contrasting yellows, beiges, browns, and even tinges of orange. Those patterns are a pretty good piece of near mimicry, making them appear much more like tiny rattlesnakes than hognose snakes. Perhaps having a similar appearance to a venomous snake grants them a little hesitation from potential predators and allows them the time to grow into adults.
Being in the lower piedmont, Harmony Hill has plenty of rock outcrops and places where the terrain will give you a workout walking uphill. But we also have sandy soils in upland pine woods, some ephemeral wetland areas, quiet creek banks and pond edges.
Regardless of where you look across their large range, which covers Minnesota to New Hampshire and southward to Florida and eastern Texas, that soil and habitat formula is perfect for Eastern Hognose Snakes. As with any species, we look at quality habitat from several perspectives. Being the good naturalists we are, why don’t we look at why sandy soils, pine forests, and waters with little to no movement are a prescription for finding Eastern Hognose Snakes.
First of all, we couldn’t expect a snake to be here if there wasn’t sufficient prey for it to survive and succeed. For Eastern Hognose Snakes, they overwhelmingly prefer toads as their prey. As a species, they so prefer toads over anything else that it can be an exclusive, toad only diet! Make no mistake, they have been documented taking other prey items such as frogs, salamanders, and even insects and small mammals. It has been our experience; however, that those other prey items are a very small percentage of the Eastern Hognose Snake diet. Of the times we’ve observed Eastern Hognose Snakes feeding, we’ve only seen them take Southern Toads, Fowler’s Toads, Eastern Narrowmouth Toads, and Eastern Spadefoot Toads.
Toads tend to be fossorial, a term that simply means they spend a large amount of time burrowed underground. Have you ever had to dig a hole? Softer, sandier soils are much easier to dig in and out of, no matter the species. Toads also need standing water or, in the very least, water with very little movement in which they lay their eggs. With much of Harmony Hill having sandy soils, shallow pond edges, a creek that occasionally spills over to leave standing water, and wetland sites that hold water after big rains, the overall toad population here is healthy.
In shades of the movie “Field of Dreams” and the quote, “If you build it, they will come.”, if you have the toads, the hognoses will show up. That is the case for us here.
That upturned nose that gives this snake their name is used to dig into the soil to find toads to eat. But the toads are not totally defenseless when discovered. Toads have two main defense strategies to deter predation, with toxic skin and the ability to inflate to many times their normal size serving as perfect ways to avoid being eaten. Eastern Hognose snakes have evolved ways around those defenses, however.
Inside the digestive systems of this snake are enzymes that counteract toxins found on toad skins! And Eastern Hognose Snakes have unique, longer rear teeth that serve as a means of delivering a mild toxin and, most importantly serve to pop inflating toads like a balloon! Looking at their genus name, Heterodon, meaning “different tooth”; it is a reference to those rear fangs. Back to that upturned “hognose”, we find a link to their species name, platirihinos. That word translates to “flat nose”.
Another wonderful use for that nose is female Eastern Hognose Snakes can dig their own burrows to lay their eggs. Though, at Harmony Hill, they rarely have to. We have an abundance of rock overhangs, holes dug by critters from squirrels to foxes, and natural depressions that mean female hognoses have plenty of readymade places to lay their eggs.
Finally, the whole reason we’re visiting with you this week; their outlandish behavior! When Eastern Hognose Snakes sense any threat, they become master thespians and put on a show better than anything you’re likely to see on stage or screen. The first thing this snake does at perceived danger is to try to look big and scary. They flatten their heads and swell up to look larger than they are. They’ll even begin hissing loudly to take the bluff to another level. If that doesn’t work, they’ll strike at whatever threat they’re doing their dead level best to fool into thinking they’re dangerous. But guess what?! They rarely even open their mouths when they do this bluff strike! Even when they do open their mouths, they don’t follow through with a bite; as though a bite could do anything to a potential predator. This behavior has led to them to be called “Puff Adder”, “Spreading Adder”, and “Spread Head Moccasin”. And it has also led some to believe they are dangerous and venomous snakes, neither of which are the case at all.
If the rough and tough show fails to deter the threat, they step up to the pièce de résistance! Pulling out all the stops and proving their acting chops, the snake will roll over onto its back, writhe in what looks like the last throws of death, smear a foul musk all over themselves, open their mouth, stick their tongue out, and play dead! By appearing to die and covering themselves in a malodorous musk, they try to convince a predator they are diseased and not to be consumed.
The act doesn’t end with the death scene. Nope! If they are disturbed and rolled back right side up, they will flip back over and get back to pretending to be dead. They will stay that way until they think the danger has passed. Only then will they decide the coast is clear, roll back over and slither away. If the threat returns, they will flop right back into the greatest death scene we’ve ever witnessed!
As whacky as their antics are, the behavior serves a wonderful survival purpose! Evolution has rewarded the reptilian actor and Harmony Hill benefits from the presence of Eastern Hognose Snakes. Sure, we delight in their beauty and their histrionics. But we also benefit from the check they keep on our toad population and from the predators that keep the hognose population at an appropriate level. Coyotes and Red-tailed Hawks, Eastern Kingsnakes and Bobcats are just a few of the predators that feed on Eastern Hognose Snakes. They are yet another vital part of the healthy ecosystems of Harmony Hill, another species that shows us our management efforts are working. And in this circumstance, a species that is a case study in animal behavior and bluffing your way out of trouble!
Cryptic Critter
Walking along the trails of Harmony Hill on spring mornings brings joy and delight in a variety of ways. The warm, morning sun kissing your face as it glimmers in and out of the dappling shade of new leaves on the trees instantly puts a smile on your face. Likewise, the flutter of butterfly wings passing in front of wildflowers and the chorus of birds singing lilting and flute-like songs lifts your spirit until you’re nearly floating above the ground. Catching a glimpse of other woodland creatures not nearly as conspicuous, and not traditionally seen as “beautiful”, will still stop you in your tracks. That is the story of our four-legged reptile friend… a nontraditional looker that is capable of holding your attention and that is deserving of as much appreciation as any resident of our neck-of-the-woods.
In an open area of the forest, the bobbing of a very small head is spotted on the backside of an old Loblolly Pine stump. The movement is fast, and the participant is too preoccupied to notice you just a few meters away. You stop everything and watch a cryptic and camouflaged, spiny lizard as it does pushups and bobs its head up and down. This spring dance is one that Eastern Fence Lizards have done for millennia, and this morning is a continuation of a natural urge to establish territory and to attract a mate to reproduce. And, as in many places, it is a dance we are able to enjoy here at Harmony Hill.
As one of the most common lizards in South Carolina, Eastern Fence Lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) can be found anywhere open forests and areas where meadows meet wood lines. Easily identified by scales that are keeled, or appearing to be rough and almost spiky, this species is tough to mistaken for any other lizard in South Carolina. Keeled scales appear rough because they have a center ridge that usually extends the full length of the scale, giving it that diagnostic rough and spiny appearance.
They prefer drier areas and overwhelmingly prefer places where they can climb to bask, such as fenceposts! (Hence, the common name, Fence Lizard!) One thing is for sure, they love to climb and are our most tree-loving lizard here. Their arboreal nature can be seen as they bask in the warmth of the sun, as they seek to escape danger and, in this instance, finding a high perch to establish a territory as theirs.
Speaking of escaping danger, this lizard doesn’t usually look for a hole to hide in or cover to shelter it when it thinks it spots a predator. They do quite the opposite! Instead of running to a hole, they race to the nearest tree, or tree-like structure, climb several feet up and scamper to the opposite side. This escape method of quickly getting to the opposite side of a tree is not unique to Eastern Fence Lizards and can even be found in their distant relatives, the woodpeckers! (Woodpeckers will often land on a tree and immediately scurry 90o to 180o on the trunk of a tree to avoid being taken by a predator, such as a pursuing Accipiter hawk.)
As for the scientific name, the genus name of “Sceloporus” refers to pores found on the undersides of their hind legs that are used to excrete lipids for attracting mates and marking territory. The species name of “undulatus” is in reference to the wavy, dark bands that are often (but, not always) present on the backs of this lizard. You’ll notice that the lizards in these photos don’t exhibit clear markings, showing this isn’t always a diagnostic identification field marking.
In the early part of the spring at Harmony Hill, usually late March through early May, male Eastern Fence Lizards will find a stump, fallen log, fencepost, low branch or even the top of the root ball of an overturned tree and begin working to attract a potential mate. They also use this time to reinforce territorial boundaries for potential interloping males. Depending upon food resources, a territory could be as small as 50-75 m2. When food isn’t quite as abundant, that area could easily double.
As for their diet, it is varied and includes just about any invertebrate that they can fit into their mouths. Beetles, spiders, moths, butterflies, flies, cockroaches and even worms are on the menu. While they’re not particular about what they eat, they are fairly particular about how they catch their meals. Eastern Fence Lizards are incredibly dependent upon sight to hunt and choose to sit tight and let their camouflage work for them, waiting for possible food items to come to them. When an unsuspecting invertebrate gets near, the lizard will make a quick movement to catch it.
Sight isn’t only important for hunting; it is also critical to spotting a healthy and viable partner to mate with and pass along their genes. Male Eastern Fence Lizards develop large areas of bright blue markings on their undersides. On their throats and on the sides of their abdomens, an iridescent blue can be seen shining in the sun during breeding season. Females have some blue on their undersides, but nothing like what is found on the males.
Later in the early summer, females will usually lay between 4-14 eggs. At Harmony Hill, that tends to be very late May and into mid-June. Around the end of July, hatching begins, and miniature versions of the adults begin to roam the woodlands of the southern piedmont of South Carolina. Measuring about 1.5”-2”, the newly hatched lizards look very much like tiny versions of the females.
Adults can easily grow well above 6”, with females being larger than males. It isn’t out of the question to find females nearing 7.5”. This size difference between females and males, referred to as sexual dimorphism, finds females of this species being 10-15% larger than males. Fun fact… while females tend to be longer, overall, than males, they often have shorter tails than their male counterparts!
Life isn’t easy for our Eastern Fence Lizards, as they face a gauntlet of predators at just about every turn. Birds, such as American Crows, Blue Jays, American Kestrels and Loggerhead Shrikes are quite good at hunting them. And on the ground, a variety of snakes excel at capturing and consuming them. Now you see why they race to the nearest tree and quickly hide on the other side! Danger from above and below besets them all day!
The next time you find yourself wandering along the edge of an open forest, be sure to keep a keen eye out for these well-camouflaged reptiles and you just may witness pushups and head bobs. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the opportunity to watch one of the more common species of lizard in the southeast. And, if you take the time to soak up the gift of nature before you, you’ll learn that in no way does common mean ordinary or ugly! We, here at Harmony Hill, are not on the fence about the uncommon beauty of this common species.