Northwestern Fence Lizard Photos – Yosemite Reptiles
If you will only see one reptile during your visit to Yosemite, I can pretty much guarantee you it will be this super common lizard. Anytime it’s remotely warm out, you’ll see them basking in the sun on rocks and fences (hence the name). Here are my best my northwestern fence lizard photos.
You can literally find these “Bluebelly lizards” everywhere in California, though they do physically change in appearance from location to location. They get their nickname from the bright blue, iridescent strips that can be found on their undersides.
Tame Pets – Northwestern Fence Lizard Photos
These little guys are funny. They’re fast and hard to catch, but will never try to bite you once caught. If you start to rub their heads or gently “pet” them, they will quickly fall into a trance, closing their eyes and drifting off to la la l land! You can even flip them upside down at that point, they will just lay there, apparently hypnotized and frozen.
Yes, they just might be the easiest animals to tame. Actually, if you make a sudden movement and jolt them, they’ll quickly become alert and try to escape again. Haha.
Anyway, the first photo on this page was taken along the May Lake hike in summer. These others were captured near Evergreen lodge, just outside the park.
I noticed that the highest elevation (alpine) variety of these lizards are even less skittish. You can walk right up to them. They tend to be more striking in color and appearance as well. The blue features on them stretch up to their sides and even back as well.
More Yosemite wildlife pics can be accessed here.
Looking for lodging? Check out my Yosemite Hotels page.
Show the Sierra some love – Share this page:
About My Photos
The images on this website are available for licensing and/or sale as framed prints. If you’d like to purchase them for a blog, news article, or gift, feel free to contact me with the specifics. This way you’re supporting photographers such as me directly (as opposed to buying from a faceless stock photo corporation).
Pinterest users: By all means, feel free to pin!
– Nathan Allen
About Me
I’m Nathan Allen, photographer / creator of YosemiteParkPhotos.com (Yosemite Photos) and international travel site I Dreamed Of This. In truth, I lived in San Francisco, New York, & Singapore…but nothing compares to life in the mountains. I share my experiences HERE.