Not one to look for only fine feathered friends, local Chris Dale captured this footage of an alligator lizard slithering through Squamish.
This reptile can be found throughout southwestern B.C., and is mainly associated with Douglas-fir and hemlock forests.
They can be secretive creatures.
Their first defence is to flee and hide, according to www.bcreptiles.ca.
If they encounter a predator or pesky human, they may hide for hours afterward.
"If caught, a lizard may release a smelly mix of feces and musk, bite, or even ‘release’ its tail. The dropped tail acts as a decoy, distracting the potential predator. Over time, the lizard will regenerate a shorter, fatter tail. As the tail is an important fat reserve, tail autotomy usually is a tactic of last resort. As evidenced by the number of lizards with regenerated tails, however, it also is a successful tactic."
Local lizards can be found soaking up the sun or heat on warm rocks during the summer months.
Learn more about the alligator lizard here.
If taking photos or video of local wildlife, always adhere to the ethical photography code of conduct.
