My housekeeper called me to tell me there was a lizard trying to get into the house. I was close by and returned home to find her crouched on top of a desk with her watchful eye on the lizard. I tried not to laugh because that is exactly where I would be if there was a mouse in the house.
The lizard was lying on the metal runner between the sliding glass door and the screen door. The glass door to the house was open. Armed with brooms, we each took a side of the door. She was to push it out from the inside, and I was to slam the glass door shut from the outside.
Our plan worked and I expected the lizard to quickly scurry away. It didn’t. It turned towards me and hissed. I couldn’t believe it. This eight inch lizard was telling me off. I took my broom and tried to prod it along to the grass. It hissed again and I saw its teeny tiny sharp teeth. I have to admit, I had a Harry Potter movie flashback. My little backyard friend reminded me of the miniature dragon Harry pulls out of a bag in the tri-wizard tournament.
The lizard found a hiding place, and all was well until my daughter came home from school. I told her the story. We went out to look and it was back – right by the patio door. My daughter got some chopsticks to touch it. It didn’t move. She accused me of being its killer. I took the chopsticks from her and flipped it over. It remembered me and gave another hiss!
Before my daughter could scoop it up and relocate it, I grabbed a camera and took a photo. I’ve tried to identify this character, and ended up with the Western Fence Lizard. It is the most common for this area which works for me since I have no desire to be a lizard expert. So here’s the trouble maker. (Click on the photo to enlarge.)
The Evil Lizard
