The Western fence lizard is one of several scaly species found at John Muir National Historic Site. This individual has a red marker on it's back put there by staff as part of survey efforts.
NPS
Reptiles on Mount Wanda
Reptiles like snakes and lizards are cold-blooded, meaning they don’t produce their own body heat. In the summer, they seek shade among the grass and trees, but during the winter, you might spot them sunbathing on your path! Below are some common and rare species you might encounter at the park:
Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis):
Known for their spiny scales and coloration ranging from gray to brown, these lizards are often called "blue bellies" due to the vibrant blue patches on males' throats and bellies. Fascinatingly,a study in 1998 by Robert Lane found that a protein in their blood can kill the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, helping ticks rid themselves of the illness after feeding on these lizards.
California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae):
Typically around three feet long, California kingsnakes are recognizable by their alternating brown/black and white/cream bands. Though non-venomous and generally non-aggressive, they may hiss and shake their tails if disturbed. These snakes earned the title "king" for their ability to prey on other snakes, including rattlesnakes.
Alameda Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus):
This slender, fast-moving snake is a threatened species found only in the San Francisco Bay Area, primarily within Contra Costa and Alameda counties. They grow to about four feet in length, with a black or brown back and a distinct yellow stripe along each side. Due to urbanization, their population has diminished, and park staff are actively working to conserve their habitat on Mt. Wanda.
California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus):
The most common salamander in the area, the California slender salamander, is often found in moist environments, such as underground or beneath objects. They are especially active during the rainy season. These salamanders are dark brown with a stripe along their back and are around five inches long, with tiny legs that make them resemble worms.
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To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
The threatened Alameda whipsnake is generally thought to prefer habitat with chaparral or scrub plant communities. So when park scientists found Alameda whipsnakes in unexpected places at John Muir National Historic site, they realized that the snake may be using a broader range of habitats than previously thought. Their results could have significant implications for habitat management not only at John Muir, but across the snake's range.
This spring, the natural resource management team at John Muir National Historic Site continued their multi-year effort to monitor resident populations of the federally threatened Alameda whipsnake. Due to COVID-19 and shelter-in-place orders, they delayed their trapping efforts between 14-21 days and may have captured fewer whipsnakes as a result. Still, the team still encountered a familiar capture pattern.
The Natural Resource Management team at John Muir National Historic Site is continuing its multi-year effort surveying for populations of the Alameda whipsnake, which occurs within the park on Mt. Wanda. Also known as a striped-racer, the Alameda whipsnake has been a federally listed species since 1997.
The Natural Resource Management team at John Muir National Historic Site has been working with The Wildlife Project to conduct a survey of the threatened Alameda whipsnake. Their goal is to help determine the occurrence and relative abundance of the snakes within the park. Survey efforts thus far show that there are surprisingly large populations of Alameda whipsnakes on Mt. Wanda.
This fall, the Natural Resources Management Team at John Muir National Historic Site initiated a survey of the Alameda whipsnake. Alameda whipsnakes are a sub-species of the California whipsnake that is only found in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area.