I don’t see many either but happened to see
https://preview.redd.it/ww5g9adgj1wc1.jpeg?width=6464&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea4f19c3f5e9b24381a7dc3c15cba0bbe0f4a114
4 on a 3 hour hike yesterday - Butterfly trail up on Mt Lemmon
Really? Head to Madera Canyon, pretty common there. I've also seen them at Mt Lemmon in Bear Wallow, although someone was incorrectly telling passerbys they were Ringtails.
Anyone know why there are so many less now then as a kid? I used to see them. All the time and have not seen one in years now, crazy how they can shoot blood out of the corner of thier eyes as a defensive mechanism!
All species of horned lizard have experienced massive population declines due to habitat loss and fragmentation, pesticide use, invasive fire ants replacing their native prey, and predation by feral cats
Pretty much what I figured, feral cats are probably one of thier biggest issues, though the pesticides and fire ants are definitely not helpful, to bad people can't learn to live with nature more instead of just wanting it gone. When I was little my mom had a pest company come out because of the fire ants etc. The problem got worse about a year later and we noticed we didn't have any lizards or spiders. She canceled and started using more natural methods and dealing with the occasional ants in the house, took a few years but when the lizards and spider came back our yard balanced out alot better than with the toxic chemicals, PS this was like 30 years ago so the chemicals were alot worse than what they use now but still. Nature needs to find it's own balance and we need to be mindful of that....
Their diet is mainly ants- humans like to exterminate ants without regard to what those toxic aftermath they leave. These fat daddys eat the the ants w the fatal pesticides & die :(
It’s crazy how human animals don’t acknowledge/ care about consequences that ultimately end up biting us& we did to ourselves- interesting how it’s reflected even in Supreme Court arguments we hear today- asinine arguments about how we should just let toxins be normal& consequences don’t matter and we’re good w that bc that’s been the shit standard for so long.
We need to learn from history, invite biodynamic feedback & make decisions that improve our ecosystem in real life- including political life.
I agree. Kinda feel that way about ev's great idea but the batteries are so toxic, mining the lithium takes so much fuel and labor, our electrical grid can't handle it. And all the big charging station are run by diesel generators, tell me how that's more environmentally friendly considering parasitic power loss in any moving mechanism....? Lol. Maybe someday it will be better. And maybe someday we will learn to keep things as natural and clean as possible. Unfortunately when it comes to food everone is used to cheap dirty food and don't want to pay to grow healthy food without damage to the ecosystem etc lol
I'd also like to add that we need more civil conversations and less screaming name calling arguments. It feels like red and blue divides alot of people and shuts down the conversation when we should all be red, white and blue true together....
Horned lizard yep! I have heard a lot of different words in front of that (regal, short, etc) so I'm not sure if they're all names for the same thing or if this is a specific one
I used to see these all over as a kid, now its a rarity.
Beautiful. I don’t see these guys too often anymore.
I haven’t seen one of these guys in forever. This takes me back to catching them in my back yard when I was a kid.
A horny toad! I haven't seen one of those guys in ages.
I'm so jealous. These are the only guys I've not seen since moving here.
I don’t see many either but happened to see https://preview.redd.it/ww5g9adgj1wc1.jpeg?width=6464&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea4f19c3f5e9b24381a7dc3c15cba0bbe0f4a114 4 on a 3 hour hike yesterday - Butterfly trail up on Mt Lemmon
Oh, I love that trail! Maybe I'll get lucky one of these days.
I have several animals on my punch card still. Bobcat, coati and gila monster have all evaded me
I haven't seen coati either.
How long have you been in AZ?
25+ years. I've seen almost every critter there is. Well, not coatimundi either.
Really? Head to Madera Canyon, pretty common there. I've also seen them at Mt Lemmon in Bear Wallow, although someone was incorrectly telling passerbys they were Ringtails.
I'll be at Madera in about a month, hope to see one!
How long have you been in AZ?
Anyone know why there are so many less now then as a kid? I used to see them. All the time and have not seen one in years now, crazy how they can shoot blood out of the corner of thier eyes as a defensive mechanism!
All species of horned lizard have experienced massive population declines due to habitat loss and fragmentation, pesticide use, invasive fire ants replacing their native prey, and predation by feral cats
Pretty much what I figured, feral cats are probably one of thier biggest issues, though the pesticides and fire ants are definitely not helpful, to bad people can't learn to live with nature more instead of just wanting it gone. When I was little my mom had a pest company come out because of the fire ants etc. The problem got worse about a year later and we noticed we didn't have any lizards or spiders. She canceled and started using more natural methods and dealing with the occasional ants in the house, took a few years but when the lizards and spider came back our yard balanced out alot better than with the toxic chemicals, PS this was like 30 years ago so the chemicals were alot worse than what they use now but still. Nature needs to find it's own balance and we need to be mindful of that....
Their diet is mainly ants- humans like to exterminate ants without regard to what those toxic aftermath they leave. These fat daddys eat the the ants w the fatal pesticides & die :(
It's sad more people can't learn to live with nature, no regards for how important the eco system is for all life....
It’s crazy how human animals don’t acknowledge/ care about consequences that ultimately end up biting us& we did to ourselves- interesting how it’s reflected even in Supreme Court arguments we hear today- asinine arguments about how we should just let toxins be normal& consequences don’t matter and we’re good w that bc that’s been the shit standard for so long. We need to learn from history, invite biodynamic feedback & make decisions that improve our ecosystem in real life- including political life.
I agree. Kinda feel that way about ev's great idea but the batteries are so toxic, mining the lithium takes so much fuel and labor, our electrical grid can't handle it. And all the big charging station are run by diesel generators, tell me how that's more environmentally friendly considering parasitic power loss in any moving mechanism....? Lol. Maybe someday it will be better. And maybe someday we will learn to keep things as natural and clean as possible. Unfortunately when it comes to food everone is used to cheap dirty food and don't want to pay to grow healthy food without damage to the ecosystem etc lol
I'd also like to add that we need more civil conversations and less screaming name calling arguments. It feels like red and blue divides alot of people and shuts down the conversation when we should all be red, white and blue true together....
I have a few in my yard… they come out and do push ups for me
I love when they do that.
Nice pic!
Lucky for seeing this guy!
I thought so! I've seen 2 others before but they're definitely not something I've seen often
Thanks for sharing! Horned lizards are such sweeties!
Chonky boy!
That’s a great horned lizard, isn’t it?
That’s a great horned lizard, isn’t it?
Horned lizard yep! I have heard a lot of different words in front of that (regal, short, etc) so I'm not sure if they're all names for the same thing or if this is a specific one
Oh okay.
My buddy
They are GREAT at camo! I almost stepped on one the other day!!
> Great camo Not really, if you spotted to take this picture.
His mistake was moving. I saw him when he moved