Life on the fence

The Eastern Fence Lizard is a small terrestrial lizard found throughout much of the mid-Atlantic region and into the Southeast states.

The animal’s name is derived from its habit of basking on raised objects, which can often include fence posts.

Being diurnal, these lizards require fairly high temperatures to be active. And when they are they can often be seen skittering about, as males defend territories and hunt for females or when the lizards are simply hunting for food, which with their high metabolisms they require a fair amount of.

Their usual diet consists of small invertebrates, particularly insects such as crickets, beetles caterpillars, etc.

If observed from a distance these lizards will often carry on their daily activities as normal, allowing people a unique glimpse into "life in the undergrowth" so to speak.

 When they sense danger, these lizards quickly dart away from the source, either using an object to climb around and shield themselves or climbing to impressive heights in the branches of trees.

The one shown here was spotted on a recent trip to the South.