Hiding in Plain Sight

 

Hiding in Plain Sight
Tequesta, FL
March 10, 2022

OK, sometimes I think I am living on the edge of Jurassic Park. Lizards are everywhere when the temperatures crawl into the mid-80s as they did yesterday. They can be very startling as they zip across in front of me while I am walking or biking. For some reason they feel the race across the sidewalk when I approach. 

I have seen colorful lizards during my biking outings, but generally there are two types of lizards that zip about: the six-lined race runner and geckos. During one of my bike outings, I did see a small iguana and one very colorful lizard that scurried into the underbrush before I cold get a good look at it. I'm not sure what the lizard in the photo is, but it was outdoors on the still warm exterior of the house last evening, hiding in plain sight. As close as I can determine it may have been a Tropical House Gecko.

I don't mind the lizards too much. We do not allow them inside the house, but occasionally one gets into the garage which can be disconcerting. Unlike other areas of Florida, I have not seen any iguanas in our immediate area so we do not fear falling iguanas during periods of cold weather. 

Thankfully, unlike Jurassic Park, the lizards of Florida are not trying to make a snack out of people. Just be ready for them to show up--anywhere.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL