The Ornate Tree Lizard

If you live in a big city like I do, most of the time when you’re riding around, you don’t see a whole lot of water. And if you do, it’s likely a pond or small lake at the park.

Before urbanization streams big and small ran across our landscape. These waterways were important to the animals who evolved along them including lizards.

As urbanization happened and continued, our stream systems were channelized or bulldozed to build or as preventative measures in anticipation of flooding.

However in places like Tucson, AZ, the city has restructured the ways water moves through the city to be available in more areas. One of my favorite examples of this is the Santa Cruz River Heritage project.

For lizards like the ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) this and other habitat restoration (e.g. planting native vegetation, creation of water catchments, and construction of artificial wetlands) have positive impacts on their populations.

Can you #FindThatLizard?!

Let me know with #FoundThatLizard!

Also, do you know of any restoration efforts happening in your community?